THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


<r 


ADVANCE    SHEETS 


OK 


LITERACY  AND  HISTORICAL  ACTIVITIES 


NORTH    CAROLINA. 


Since  undertaking  this  publication  it  has  been  decided  to  enlarge 
its  scope  and  change  its  subject  matter  to  a  considerable  extent 
and  therefore  it  has  been  thought  best  to  issue  what  is  already 
printed  in  the  form  of  advanced  sheets  and  issue  the  complete 
volume  contemplated  aJittle  later. 


gjSfSSSa 


f  OCT •?'- 1938 
X 


UB' 


MRS.    LINDSAY    PATTERSON, 

Who  gives  the  Patterson  Memorial  Cup  to  encourage  Literary 
and  Historical  Activity  in  North  Carolina. 


HISTORICAL  AND  LITERACY  ACTIVITIES 


NORTH    CAROLINA, 


1900-1905. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  COMMISSION 

Volume   I. 

W.  J.  PEELE,  Chairman,  J.  D.  HUFFHAM, 

R.  D.  W.  CONNOR,  Secretary,  RICHARD  DILLARD, 

F.  A.  SONDLEY. 


COMPILED   BY 


W.  J.    PEELE   arid  CLARENCE   H.    POE. 


GOLDSBORO : 

NASH   BROS.,   PRINTERS  AND   BINDERS, 

1S04. 


f 


v:  J 
INTRODUCTION. 


That  the  literary  life  of  the  State  is  growing  if  proved 
not  less  by  the  increasing  number  of  hooks  written  by  authors 
\\ln>  dwell  among  OS  than  by  the  organized  activities  of  the 
clubs  and  associations  which  are  founded  for  the  study  and 
preservation  of  our  State  history.  The  possibilities  for  good 
readily  suggest  themselves  to  the  thoughtful.  Suppose  only 
a  do/en  students  consider  any  topic  together;  the  aggregate 
knowledge  of  all  soon  becomes  the  property  of  each;  and  the 
errors  and  misconceptions  of  each  are  subjected  to  the  light 
which  all  together  can  give.  The  result  is  that  knowledge 
of  ourselves  is  at  once  widened  and  made  more  accurate. 
These  associated  efforts  have  a  similar  advantage  in  dissemi- 
nation. One  of  the  most  hopeful  signs  of  the  times  is  the 
interest  which  our  literary  men  and  women  are  taking  in  the 
common  schools,  and  the  interest  that  the  common  schools  arc 
taking  in  matters  that  relate  to  our  State  history  and  litera- 
ture. The  best  of  the  things  new  and  old  which  are  brought 
to  light  are  now  being  utilized  for  their  benefit. 

There  is  a  change  in  the  character  of  the  work  which  is 
being  done  by  our  authors.  Instead  of  being  all  too  ready  to 
spread  their  work  over  a  century  or  more,  they  now  usually 
confine  themselves  to  a  topic,  a  person,  or  a  short  period,  and, 
in  this  way,  instead  of  rehashing  what  is  already  familiar, 
they  make  permanent  additions  to  the  common  stock.  In- 
tensive history  and  literature  is  as  much  a  desideratum  as 
intensive  farming. 

The  time  is  near  at  hand  when  a  good  book  written  to  in- 
form us  about  ourselves  will  pay  a  reasonable  profit  to  its 
03       author  and  publisher.     A  pure,  healthy,  home  literature  is 
**        the  nursing  mother  of  civic  virtue.     As  some  one  has  well 
r       said,  God  "spake"  before  he  created.     The  "word,"  the  plan, 
'0       the  logic  (logos)  of  His  work  preceded  the  work  itself.     So 
we,  His  creatures,  must  think,  must  plan,  must  brood  over 
void  and  formless  things  and  dead  facts  until  they  live  in 
organic  unity  and  beauty. 
^  The  State  of  North  Carolina,  too,  is  the  foster  mother  of 

the  best  of  these  enterprises  for  developing  original  sources 

302509 


\A 


4  Introduction. 

of  our  history.  '  It  has  provided  for  the  publication  of  the 
Colonial  and  State  Records,  and  the  State  Regimental  His- 
tories ;  its  last  act  is  to  provide  for  a  Historical  Commission 
to  gather  up  and  preserve,  in  a  permanent  form,  the  frag- 
ments which  are  not  already  published  or  else  not  published 
in  available  form.  This  supplemental  work  the  Commission 
is  undertaking  to  do,  and  it  has  been  thought  appropriate 
to  begin  by  taking  a  census  of  the  present  literary  activities 
in  North  Carolina  as  a  means  of  encouragement  to  those  who 
have  produced  them,  as  a  standard  of  comparison  for  future 
progress,  and  for  the  utility  of  the  publication  itself. 

W.  J.  Peele, 
Chairman  North  Carolina  Historical  Commission. 


PREFACE. 


The  task  of  compiling  this  record  of  literary  and  historical 
activities  in  North  Carolina  was  entrusted  to  Mr.  W.  .]. 
Peele  and  the  undersigned.  As  this  is  the  first  attempt  of 
the  kind,  and  as  there  was  no  model  to  copy,  the  compilers 
are  aware  that  the  volume  is  not  without  its  defects.  It  is 
hoped,  however,  that  these  imperfections  will  be  removed 
in  subsequent  editions  of  this  work,  nor  is  it  too  much  to  hope 
that  this  first  edition  will  itself  quicken  interest  in  historical 
effort,  develop  a  more  generous  rivalry  among  our  historical 
organizations,  and  lead  to  more  orderly  and  enthusiastic  work 
for  the  study  and  preservation  of  our  State  history. 

The  present  volume  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  plan  of  the 
Literary  and  Historical  Association  to  publish  a  Yearbook  of 
its  own,  and  that  organization  has  been  given  such  a  large 
place  in  this  publication  because  it  is  the  only  society  State- 
wide in  its  scope  which  is  devoting  itself  primarily  to  his- 
torical and  literary  work. 

It  should  also  be  said  that  we  found  an  embarrassment 
of  riches  in  dealing  with  the  addresses  delivered  at  the  annual 
meetings  of  this  society.  Some  papers  of  real  merit  had  to  be 
omitted.  It  was  found  necessary  therefore  to  conform  to  the 
purposes  of  the  Historical  Commission  and  select  only  those 
addresses  having  the  greatest  value  as  historical  material — 
the  Address  of  the  President  in  1903  being  the  only  excep- 
tion to  this  rule. 

Some  of  our  historical  organizations,  it  will  be  observed, 
are  represented  in  this  volume  only  by  reports  too  brief  and 
meagre  to  be  in  keeping  with  the  importance  of  their  work. 
The  compilers  feel  therefore  that  they  should  explain  that  all 
organizations  received  the  same  hearty  invitation  to  report 
their  progress,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  more  detailed  accounts 
will  lead  these  other  organizations  to  report  with  greater 
fullness  in  succeeding  volumes. 

On  the  whole,  we  regard  this  as  an  excellent  showing  of 
historical  activities  in  our  State,  and  the  good  work  already 
accomplished  should  inspire  us  to  make  "that  which  we  have 
done  but  earnest  of  the  things  we  yet  shall  do." 

Clarence  H.  Poe, 
Secretarv  State  Literarv  and   Historical  Association. 


P42023 


THE   CALL  FOR  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE 

SOCIETY. 


At  a  recent  conference  of  gentlemen  and  ladies,  held  in  Raleigh,  it  was 
determined  to  take  steps  for  the  organization  of  a  State  Literary  and  Histor- 
ical Association.  The  undersigned  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare 
an  address  to  the  people  of  the  State,  setting  forth  briefly  the  purposes  of 
such  Association,  and  extending  to  all  persons  and  organizations  that 
may  be  interested  an  invitation  to  meet  in  the  city  of  Ealeigh  on  Tuesday 
night  of  Fair  week,  October  23d,  proximo,  at  8  o'clock,  in  the  Hall  of  the 
Olivia  Raney  Library  Building. 
The  chief  purposes  of  the  Association  will  be — 

First.  To  promote  the  reading  habit  among  the  people  of  North 
Carolina. 

Second.  To  stimulate  the  production  of  literature  in  our  State. 
Third.  To  collect  and  preserve  historical  material. 
In  carrying  out  these  purposes  the  Association  will  hope  to  aid  in  the 
improvement  of  our  public  schools,  in  the  establishment  of  public  libra- 
ries, in  the  formation  of  literary  clubs,  in  the  collection  and  republication 
of  North  Carolina  literature  worthy  to  be  preserved  and  now  rapidly 
passing  away,  in  the  publication  of  an  annual  record  or  biography  of 
North  Carolina  literary  productions,  in  the  collection  of  historical  mate- 
rial and  the  foundation  of  an  historical  museum,  and  in  the  correction  of 
slanders,  misrepresentations  and  other  injustice  done  our  State. 

We  are  confident  that  much  good  can  be  accomplished  by  an  association 
composed  of  even  a  few  members  who  shall  earnestly  endeavor  to  pro- 
mote these  purposes.  We  therefore  invite  all,  both  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
who  are  interested  in  this  movement,  to  be  present  at  the  time  and  place 
above  indicated,  to  take  part  in  the  conference  that  is  to  be  held,  and  to 
enroll  themselves  as  members  of  the  Association. 

Walter  Clark, 
Geo.  T.  Winston, 
W.  J.  Peele, 
Henry  Jerome  Stockard, 
D.  H.   Hill, 
Miss  Rebecca  Cameron, 
Mrs.  John  Van  Landingham. 
6 


PART  I. 


THE 


State  Literary  <?  Historical 
Association. 


Officers  i904-'05. 


President, 

First  Vice-President, 
Second  Vice-President, 
Third  Vice-President, 

Secretary-Treasurer, 


ROBT.  W.  WINSTON,  Durham,  N.  C. 
A.  C.  AVERY,  Morganton,  N.  C. 
W.  R.  COX.  Penelo,  N.  C. 
Mrs.  LINDSAY  PATTERSON, 

Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 
CLARENCE  H.  POE,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Executive  Committee 


D.   H.  Hill, 
C.  Alphonso  Smith, 
J.  Bryan  Grimes, 
W.  J.  Peele, 
Edwin  Mims, 


Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Chapel  Bill,  N.  C. 
Raleigh.  N.  C. 
Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Durham,  N.  C. 


CONSTITUTION 

OF   THE 

State  Literary  And  Historical  Association. 


NAME. 


This  Association  shall  be  called  the  State  Literary  and  Historical 
Association. 

purposes. 

The  purpose  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  collection,  preservation, 
production  and  dissemination  of  our  State  literature  and  history;  the 
encouragement  of  public  and  school  libraries ;  the  establishment  of  an 
historical  museum  ;  the  inculcation  of  a  literary  spirit  among  our  people; 
the  correction  of  printed  misrepresentations  concerning  North  Carolina, 
and  the  engendering  of  an  intelligent,  healthy  State  pride  in  the  rising 
generation. 

OFFICERS. 

The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  be  a  President  and  three  Vice- 
Presidents,  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  a  Corresponding  Secretary- 
whose  terms  of  office  shall  be  for  one  year  and  until  their  successors  are 
elected  and  qualified.  They  shall  be  elected  by  the  Association  at  its 
annual  meetings,  except  that  vacancies  in  any  office  may  be  filled  by  the 
Executive  Committee  until  the  meeting  of  the  Association  occurring  next 
thereafter. 

The  duties  of  the  President  shall  be  to  preside  overall  the  meetings  of 
the  Association,  to  appoint  all  members  of  committees,  except  where  it 
is  otherwise  provided,  and  to  look  after  the  general  interest  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. In  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  the  President,  his  succes- 
sor shall  be  chosen  from  among  the  Vice-Presidents  by  the  Executive 
Committee  to  fill  the  unexpired  term.  In  the  absence  of  the  President, 
at  any  meeting,  the  Vice-President  who  may  be  selected  by  the  Associa- 
tion shall  preside. 

The  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  keep  the  books  and  the  funds  of  the 
Association,  and  shall  pay  out  money  only  upon  the  order  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  and  the  warrant  of  its  chairman  and  the  President. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  attend  to  the  correspondence  of  the 
Association,  and  act  under  the  general  direction  of  the  P^xecutive  Com- 
mittee, and,  for  cause,  he  may  be  removed  by  the  Executive  Committee 
in  its  discretion. 

committees. 

The  permanent  Standing  Committees  of  the  Association  shall  be: 
I.  An  Executive  Committee,  consisting  of  five  members  and  the  officers 
of  the  Association  who  shall  be  ex  officio  members,  except  the  Corres, 
ponding  Secretary,  any  three  of  whom  and  an  ex  officio  member  shall 
constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

8 


Constitution.  9 

The  duties  of  this  committer  shall  be  to  make  programs  and  arrange- 
ments for  all  meetings  of  the  Association,  to  manage  its  business  matters, 
to  receive  and  acknowledge  such  donations  in  money,  or  its  equivalent, 
as  may  be  offered,  and  to  endeavor  specially  to  create  a  permanent  fund 
of  endowment  by  recommendation  of  its  objects  to  our  philanthropic 
citizens  of  menus,  to  receive  all  reports  of  officers  made  when  the  Asso- 
ciation is  not  in  session,  to  make  a  report  of  its  own  actions  and  the  affairs 
of  the  Association  at  the  meetings  thereof,  and  to  perforin  the  other 
duties  herein  prescribed  for  it. 

This  committee  shall  have  power  to  determine  the  compensation  of  any 
paid  officer  or  servant  of  the  Association  it  may  be  necessary  to  employ, 
subject  to  the  general  supervision  of  the  Association. 

II.  A  committee  on  Literature  and  History,  consisting  of  twelve  mem- 
bers, to  be  appointed  by  the  President,  and  such  other  members  of  the 
Association  as  they  shall  associate  with  themselves. 

It  shall  be  their  duty  to  collect  valuable  material  connected  with  the 
history  of  North  Carolina  and  such  of  its  literature  as,  in  their  judgment, 
is  worthy  to  be  preserved.  They  shall  endeavor  to  secure  the  co-opera- 
tion of  local  committees  in  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  State,  and  may 
appoint  sub-committees  wherever  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  the 
prosecution  of  their  work  in  any  locality. 

They  shall  recommend  to  the  Association  plans  and  contests  to  promote 
and  encourage  the  production  of  literature  among  our  people. 

They  shall  examine  and  recommend  for  publication  such  of  the  manu- 
scripts submitted  to  them  as  may  be  thought  worthy,  and  they  may 
require  as  a  condition  precedent  to  their  taking  any  manuscript  into  con- 
sideration that  its  author  first  secure  the  endorsement  of  some  local  com- 
mittee, and  they  shall  have  charge  of  any  printing  or  publication  ordered 
or  authorized  by  the  Association. 

Ill  A  committee  on  Libraries,  consisting  of  twelve  members,  to  be 
appointed  by  the  President. 

It  shall  be  their  duty  to  ascertain  and  report  to  the  Association,  as  far 
as  may  be  practicable,  the  number  and  condition  of  the  public  and  school 
libraries  in  the  State,  and  to  devise  and  suggest  plans  for  their  establish- 
ment and  promotion. 

It  shall  be  their  special  duty  to  suggest,  promote  and  encourage  free 
libraries  in  connection  with  schools  and  factories. 

This  committee  shall  have  power  to  associate  with  itself  other  members 
of  the  Association,  and  to  appoint  such  sub-committees  as  it  may  deem 
requisite  for  its  work  in  any  locality. 

IV.  A  committee  on  Membership  and  Local  Organizations,  consisting 
of  twelve  members. 

It  shall  be  their  duty  to  find  out  by  correspondence  and  otherwise  per- 
sons in  all  parts  of  the  State  who  are  in  sympathy  with  the  objects  of 
^he  Association  and  to  bring  the  same  to  their  attention  as  far  as  may  be 
practicable.  They  shall  promote  and  encourage  local  literary  and  his- 
torical organizations  and  endeavor  to  secure  their  co-operation  with  this 
Association  by  representation  at  its  meetings  and  otherwise. 


10         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

All  applications  for  membership  shall  be  made  through  this  committee, 
and  no  person  shall  be  elected,  after  the  first  meeting,  except  upon  their 
recommendation. 

V.  A  committee  on  an  Historical  Museum,  consisting  of  seven  mem- 
bers, to  be  appointed  by  the  President,  with  power  to  associate  with  itself 
such  other  members  of  the  Association  as  are  interested  in  its  special 
work. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee,  by  correspondence  or  otherwise, 
to  collect  and  accept  for  the  Association,  and  place  in  a  museum  or  place 
of  safe-keeping  and  exhibition,  all  valuable  historical  relics  and  original 
documents  which  may  be  donated  or  collected,  and  to  endeavor  to  dis- 
cover and  collect  them  wherever  they  may  be  found:  Provided,  that  the 
Historical  Department  of  the  State  Museum,  with  the  concurrence  of  its 
proper  officers,  be  selected  as  the  permanent  place  of  deposit  and  safe- 
keeping for  the  Association. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Any  white  resident  of  the  State,  or  North  Carolinian  residing  out  of 
the  State,  who  subscribes  to  the  purposes  of  the  Association,  is  eligible  to 
membership  and  may  be  elected  by  the  Association  or  by  the  Executive 
Committee  when  it  is  not  in  session,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the 
Committee  on  Membership. 

PEES. 

The  initiation  fee  and  the  annual  dues  of  each  member  of  the  Associa- 
tion shall  be  One  Dollar,  to  be  paid  to  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


There  shall  be  one  regular  general  meeting  in  each  year,  the  time  and 
place  thereof  to  be  determined  by  the  Executive  Committee. 


Program.  11 


PROGRAM  FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF  THE 

STATE  LITERARY  and  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

Music  Hall,  Olivia  Raney  Library, 
RALEIGH,  OCTOBER  23,  1900. 


8:15-8:30 — Reading  of  Plan  of  Organization  by  Committee  on  Constitution. 
Song — Thou  Art  Mine  All  (  Tipton) — Miss  Minnie  Fitch  Tucker. 
How  to  Collect  and  Preserve  Material  for  Local  and  State  Hisjtory — 

8:45-9:00— Graham  Daves,  New  Bern,  N.  C. 

9:00-9:15- -J.  S.  Bassett,  Durham,  N.  C. 
Violin  Solo — Miss  Mary  Johnson. 
Practical  Plans  for  Publishing  What  We  Produce — 

9:30-9:45— E.  J.  Hale.  Fayetteville,  N.  C. 
How  We  May  Stimulate  the  Production  of  Literature  in  North  Carolina — 

9:15-10:00— B.  F.  Sledd,  Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 
Vocal  Solo  (Angels  Serenade) — Miss  Mamie  Cowper. 
General  Discussion. 
The  Old  North  State  (Gaston)— Miss  Mitchell— Mrs.  Hamilton. 

(Chorus  accompanied  by  Choir  and  Audience). 
10:45 — Adjournment. 


12         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 


PROGRAM  SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF  THE 

STATE  LITERARY  and  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

Music  Hall,  Olivia  Raney  Library, 
RALEIGH,  OCTOBER  22,  1901. 


8:00  p.  m. — Prayer  by  the  Rev.  Eugene  Daniel,  D.D. 

Address  by  the  President,  Justice  Walter  Clark. 
Violin  Solo  by  Mr.  Clarence  de  Vaux-Royer,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
8:25  p.  m. — Address:  "Status  of  the  Library  Movement  in  North  Caro- 
lina," by  Professor  G.  A.  Grimsley,  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
8:45  p.  m. — Address:  "Possibilities  of  the  Library  Movement  in  North 

Carolina,"  by  Senator  H.  S.  Ward,  Plymouth,  N.  C. 
9:05  p.  m. — Address:  "What  Durham  County  is  Doing,  and  What  the 
State  Ought  to  be  Doing,  for  Public  Schools,"  by  Hon. 
Robert  W.  Winston,  Durham,  N.  C. 
9:20  p.  m. — Reports  of  Committees. 

Vocal  Solo,  by  Miss  Mary  R.  Mackay,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
9:40  p.  m. — Address:  "Proposition  to  Celebrate  on  Roanoke  Island  the 
Landing  of  Raleigh's  Colony,"  by  Major  Graham  Daves, 
New  Bern,  N.  C. 
Proposition  seconded  by  Governor  Charles  B.  Aycock. 
General  Discussion. 

Piano  Solo  by  Miss  Chilian  Pixley,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
10:20  p.  m. — Address:  "Ways  and  Means  to  Erect  a  Statue  to  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  in  Our  State  Capital,"  by  General  Julian  8. 
Carr,  Durham,  N.  C. 
General  Discussion. 

Vocal  Solo  by  Miss  Alice  Huston  Hammond,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
10:40  p.  m.— Poem:  "Sir  Walter  Raleigh"  (written  for  the  occasion),  by 

Henry  Jerome  Stockard. 
10:50  p.  m. — Election  of  Officers. 

Benediction. 
11:00  p.  m. — Adjournment. 


Program.  13 


PROGRAM  THIRD  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OK  THE 

STATE  LITERARY  and  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

Music  Hall,  Olivia  Uaney  Library, 
RALEIGH,  JANUARY  23,  1903. 


1.  Annual  Address  of  the  President,  by  Judge  H.  G.  Connor. 

2.  Report  on  Hall  of  History,  by  Col.  F.  A.  Olds. 

3.  Rural  Libraries  in  Our  State,  by  Hon.  J.  Y.  Joyner. 
Vocal  Solo  by  Mrs.  Charles  McKimmon. 

4.  North  Carolina  Bibliography  for  1902 — 

(a)  History— By  Prof.  D.  H.  Hill. 

(b)  Poetry— By  Prof.  H.  J.  Stockard. 
Vocal  Solo  by  Mrs.  Ashby  Lee  Baker. I 

5.  Claims  of  State  Literature  and  History  in  Our  Schools,  by  J.  W.  Bailey. 
Violin  Solo  by  Miss  Charlotte  Kendall  Hill. 

6.  Election  of  Officers. 


14         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 


PROGRAM  FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF   THE 

STATE  LITERARY  and  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

Pullen  Hall,  A.  and  M.  College, 
RALEIGH,  NOVEMBER  12,  1903. 


7:30 — The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.     (President's  Address).     By 
W.  L.  Poteat. 

8:00— North  Carolina  Bibliography  for  1903,  by  R.  P.  Beasley. 

8:15— Report  on  Hall  of  History,  by  Col.  P.  A.  Olds. 

8:30— The  Career  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  by  W.  J.  Peele. 

9:00— A  Study  of  North  Carolina  Poetry,  by  Hight  C.  Moore. 

9:30 — Material  for  the  Study  of  North  Carolina  History  in  Trinity  Col- 
lege, by  H.  B.  Adams,  Jr. 
10:15 — New  Business;  Election  of  Officers. 
10:30 — Adjournment. 


Program.  15 


PROGRAM    FIFTH  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OK  THE 

STATE  LITERAL  Y  am,  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION, 

Music  Hall,  Olivia  Ranet  Library, 
RALEIGH,  OCTOBER  18,  1904. 


8:00 — President's  Address,  "The  Average  American, "  by  Dr.  C.   Al- 

phonso  Smith,  Chapel  Hill. 
8:30 — North  Carolina  in  the  Civil  War:  A  Reply  to  Judge  Christian's 

Charges,  by  Judge  Walter  Clark,  Chairman  of  Committee. 
9:00— North  Carolina  Bibliography  for  1904,  by  Prof.  D.  H.  Hill,  West 

Raleigh. 
9:10— Our  State  Literature,  by  Mr.  John  Charles  McNeill,  Charlotte. 
9:30— The  University  and  Its  Relation  to  Staie  History,  by  President 

F.  P.  Venable,  Chapel  Hill. 
9:40— Business  Meeting;  Resolutions;  Election  of  Officers. 
10:00— Adjournment. 


16       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Roll  qf  Members. 


[Those  whose  names  are  marked  by  a  star  (*)are  activemembers  of  the 
Association.  The  other  names  included  are  those  of  charter  members 
who  have  not  resigned  but  have  not  renewed  their  membership  within 
the  last  twelve  months]. 


*Mrs.  A.  L.  Baker  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Gov  C.  B.  Aycock Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*T.  M.  Arrington Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*H.  B.  Adams.  Jr Durham,  N.  C. 

Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe Raleigh,  N.  C. 

8.  E.  Asbury Raleigh,  N.  C. 

L.  F.  Alford Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*George  Allen Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*S.  S.  Alsop Enfield,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  A.  B.  Andrews Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Frank  Armfield Monroe,  N.  C. 

*F.  H.  Busbee Raleigh,  N.  C. 

W.  H.  S.  Burgwyn Henderson,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  Maggie  C.  D.  Burgwyn Henderson,  N.  C. 

N.  B.  Broughton Raleigh,  N.  0., 

*Mrs.  J.  M.  Barbee Raleigh,  K  C. 

*Miss  Elizabeth  N.  Briggs Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Thomas  H.  Briggs Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Briggs Raleigh,  N  C. 

*R.  H.Battle Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Grace  H.  Bates Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Bessie  St.  C.  Bates Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*0.  W.  Blacknall Kittrell,  N.  C. 

J.  8.  Bassett Durham,  N.  C. 

*Miss  Elizabeth  Bellamy Raleigh,  N.  C.  ! 

B.  C.  Beckwith Raleigh,  N.  C. 

John  J.  Blair Wilmington,  N.  C. 

R.T.Bennett . . .   Wadesboro,  N.  C. 

*R.  F.  Beasley  Greensboro,  N.  C. 

*John  F.  Bruton Wilson,  N.  C. 

♦Thomas  W.  Blount Roper,  N.  C. 

*E.  C.Brooks Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Judge  Walter  Clark Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  S.  H.  Clark     Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Jonas  M.  Costner Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  Hope  S.  Chamberlain Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Roll  of  Members.  17 

•Mrs.  Sallies.  Cotton Falkland,  N.  C. 

*Mis8  Rebecca  Cameron  Hilltboro,  X.  C. 

R.  B.  Creecy Elizabeth  City.  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Irene  Johnson  Cook Cardenas,  N.  C. 

*Judge  H.  G.  Connor Wilson,  N\  0. 

*Prof.  P.  P.  Claxton    Knoxville,  Tenn. 

EL  K.  Ooker Goldsboro,  X.  C. 

•Mrs.  A   I ..  ( 'air Durham,  I 

Prof.  J.  B  Carlyle Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

•John  S.  Cunningham Cunningham,  N.  C. 

Locke  Craige Asheville,  N.  C. 

*J.  S.  Carr Durham,  N  C. 

Wm.  R.  Cox Penelo.  N.  C. 

»Re*.  J.  B.  Cheshire Raleigh,  X.  C. 

*Prof.  R.  I).  W.  Connor Wilmington,  X.  C. 

•Judge  R.  M.  Douglas  Raleigh,  X   C. 

•Mrs.  E.  G.  Davis Henderson,  N.  C. 

T.  W.  Dobbin   Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Miss  S.  H.  Dinwiddie Raleigh,  N.  C. 

'Josephua  Daniels  Raleigh.  N.  C. 

Graham  Daves New  Bern,  N.  C. 

R.  D.  Douglas  Greensboro,  X.  C. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Dodd Ashland,  Va. 

*Junius  Davis Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*Euzelian  Literary  Society Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

P.  C.  Enniss Raleigh,  X.  C. 

A.  H.  Eller Winston,  X.  C. 

G.  S.  Fraps Raleigh,  X.  C. 

Alex.  J.  Field Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries Salem,  N.  C. 

J.  I.  Foust Goldsboro,  N.  C. 

*J.  Bryan  Grimes  Raleigh,  X.  C. 

*Maj    W.  A.  Graham Machpelah,  X.  C. 

*A.  W.  Graham Oxford,  X.  C. 

G  A.  Grimsley Greensboro,  N.  C. 

*B.  F.  Grady Turkey,  N.  C. 

J.  O.Guthrie Raleigh,  X.  C. 

*H.  T.  Greenleaf,  Sr Elizabeth  City,  N.  C. 

Maxwell  Gorman Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*F.R.  Grist  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*R.  T.  Gray Raleigh,  N.  C. 

G.  A.  Graham Charlotte,  N.  C. 

♦Marshall  DeL.  Haywood Raleigh,  N.  C. 

•Mrs.  Ashley  Home     Clayton,  N.  C. 

•Miss  Mary  H.  Hinton Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Charles  Hancock Stark ville,  Miss. 

Miss  Lillie  Strong  Hicks Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Mary  Seaton  Hay  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Carey  J.  Hunter Raleigh,  N.  C. 


18         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

•Mfcfl  Fannie  E.  S.  Heck Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Miss  Susie  McGee  Heck Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*P.  E   Hines Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  John  W.  Hinsdale  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Maj.  E.  J.  Hale Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

*D.  H.  Hill Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Edward  J.  Harding Biltmore,  N.  C. 

*John  S.  Henderson Salisbury,  N.  C. 

*Wm.  L.  Hill Maxton,  N.  C. 

J.  B.  Hathaway Edenton,  N.  C. 

T.  N.  Ivey       Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Charles  E.  Johnson . Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Charles  E.  Johnson Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Garland  Jones Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Prof .  J.  Y.  Joyner Greensboro,  N.  C. 

Willie  S.  Jordan Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*John  Wilber  Jenkins Baltimore,  Md. 

Miss  Sarah  Simmons  Kirby Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Thomas  S.  Kenan Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Henry  T.  King Greenville,  N.  C. 

*B.  R.  Lacy Raleigh,  N.  C. 

B.  F.  Long  Statesville,  N.  C. 

*T.  J.  Lassiter Smithfield,  N.  C. 

*Wilson  G.  Lamb  Williamston,  N.  C. 

*W.  J.  Martin Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Prof.  E    l\  Moses Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  John  A.  Mills Raleigh,  N.  C. 

John  A.  Mills Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffitt Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Prof.  Hugh  Morson   Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Charles  McNamee Biltmore,  N.  C. 

Miss  Mary  P.  Mills Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Louise  Mahler Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Charles  D.  Mclver Greensboro,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  F.  L   Mahler  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

F.  L.  Mahler Raleigh,  N.  C. 

•Iredell  Meares Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*Prof .  Robert  L.  Madison Painter,  N.  C. 

J.  A.  Matheson Durham,  N.  C. 

*Rev  H.  C.  Moore Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Edwin  Minos Durham,  N.  C. 

J.  H.  Myrover Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

Miss  J.  W.  Nicholson   Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Frank  Nash Hillsboro,  N.  C. 

Fred.  A.  Olds  ' Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Edw.  A.  Oldham Washington,  D.  C. 

*Prof.  W.  L.  Poteat Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  P.  C.  Patterson Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Roll  of  Members.  19 

•Mrs.  Lindsay  Patterson Winston-Salem,  N.  C. 

*S.  L  Patterson Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Annie  F.  Petty Greensboro,  N.  C. 

E.  N.  Pugh Windsor,  N.  C. 

W.  S  Primrose Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Miss  E.  A.  Pool Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Clarence  H.  Poe  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*W.  J.  Peele Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Philomathesian  Literary  Society Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

*J.  E.  Pogue Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*W.  D  Pruden Edenton.  N.  C. 

*Mr8.  Annie  Moore  Parker Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Dred  Peacock  Greensboro,  N.  C. 

♦George  S.  Powell Asheville,  N.  C. 

T.  M.  Pittraan Henderson,  N.  C. 

W.  S.  Pearson Morganton,  N.  C. 

W.  S.  O'B.  Robinson Goldsboro,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  W.  S.O'B.  Robinson Goldsboro,  N.  C. 

♦Miss  Minnie  Redford Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Miss  Loula  Riddle Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦John  E.  Ray Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Mrs.  D.  L  Russell Wilmington,  N.  C. 

♦Mrs  W.  I.  Royster Raleigh,  N,  C. 

♦R.  B.  Raney Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦G.  Rosenthal Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Wallace  C.  Riddick  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

"Miss  Li  da  Tunstall  Rodman Washington,  N.  C. 

J.  E.  Robinson Goldsboro,  N.  C. 

•Prof.  Charles  Lee  Raper Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

♦Dr.  W.  I.  Royster Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Miss  Edith  Royster Raleigh,  N.  C. 

•Miss  Cornelia  Shaw Charlotte,  N.  C. 

•Prof.  W.  E.  Stone Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Prof.  H.  J.  Stockard Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Miss  Carrie  C.  Strong Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Mrs.  W.  O.  Shannon Henderson,  N.  C. 

•John  A.  Simpson Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦A.  M.  Scales Greensboro,  N.  C. 

♦Judge  James  E.  Shepherd Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦M.  0.  Sherrill Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  H.  E.  Stone Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  William  O.  Smith Raleigh,  N.  C. 

W.  A.  Syme  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

♦Mrs  Mary  Bates  Sherwood Raleigh,  N.  C. 

•Prof.  Benjamin  F.  Sledd Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

Prof.  E.  Walter  Sikes '. Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

A.  B.  Stronach Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Walter  P.  Stradley Oxford,  N.  C. 

♦J.  H.  Southgate Durham,  N.  C. 


20         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

*James  Sprunt Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*Ed.  Chambers  Smith Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Wm.  H.  Streeter Greensboro,  N.  C. 

*Mrs    E.  E.  Swindell Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  F.  L.  Stevens West  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  C.  Alphonso  Smith Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Mary  Grimes  Smith Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Henry  Louis  Smith Davidson,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  F.  L.  Townsend Mt.  Airy,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  R.  S.  Tucker Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*J.W.  Thackston Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Charles  E.  Taylor  . .    . .  Wake  Forest,  N.  C. 

C.  F.  Tomlinson Winston,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Frances  Tiernan Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Mrs.  John  Van  Landingham Charlotte.  N.  C. 

*T.  B.  Womack Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Zeb.  V.  Walser Lexington,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  George  T.  Winston Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  H.  DeB.  Wills Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

*Miss  Ada  V.  Womble Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Mrs.  Spier  Whitaker Raleigh,  N.  C, 

*Rev.  James  A.  Weston Hickory,  N.  C. 

Walter  L.  Watson Raleigh,  N.  C. 

John  Ward Raleigh,  N.  C. 

W.  A.  Withers Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Alexander  Webb Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Judge  F.  D.  Winston Windsor,  N.  C. 

*Prof.  W.  T.  Whitsett Whitsett,  N.  C. 

*Wm.  H.  Williamson  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*J.  M.  Way Ashboro,  N.  C. 

*Robert  W.  Winston Durham,  N.  C. 

*J.  R.  Young Raleigh,  N.  C. 

ADDENDUM. 

New  members  added  at  Fifth  Annual  Meeting,  Raleigh,  October  18,  1904. 

*Dr.  B.  F.  Arrington Goldsboro,-N.  C. 

*W.  R.  Bond Scotland  Neck,  N.  C. 

*Joseph  G  Brown Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

*W.  M.  Cumming , Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*T.  W.Davis Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*J.  R.  Ferrall Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*A.  C.  Holloway Lillington,  N.  C. 

*John  Hinsdale Raleigh,  N.  0. 

»J.  K.  Howell „ Rocky  Mount,  N.  C. 

*A.  W.  Haywood Haw  River,  N.  C. 

*B.  F.  Hall Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*Mis8  Lizzie  P.  Jones Raleigh,  N.  C. 


Roll  of  Members.  21 

Norman  H.  Johnson Raleigh,  N.  C. 

•Henry  A.  London Pittsboro,  N.  C 

*Rev.  A.  H.  Moment Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*F.  O.  Moring Raleigh,  N.  C. 

*M.  C.  S.  Noble Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

*Dr.  Joseph  H.  Pratt Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

*F.  C.  Robbins  Lexington,  N.  C 

*Dr.  F.  P.  Venable Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 

•B.  G.  Worth Wilmington,  N.  C. 

*M.  S.  Willard Wilmington,  N.  C. 


22         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Resolutions  Adopted. 


Resolutions  Adopted  October  23,  1900. 

I. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Association  that  one  day  in  each 
year  should  be  set  apart  in  the  schools  of  our  State  for  the  consideration 
of  some  important  fact  of  State  history  with  appropriate  public  exercises 
to  be  called  the  North  Carolina  Day. 

II. 

Resolved,  That  this  Association,  as  soon  as  the  Committee  on  Literature 
and  History  shall  recommend,  offer  a  prize  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the 
best  story  of  the  life  of  Vance  for  children. 

III. 

Resolved,  That  annually,  or  biennially,  as  may  be  determined,  the 
Association  shall,  as  far  as  it  may  be  able,  cause  to  be  printed  in  a  per- 
manent form  a  year  book  containing  the  best  things  in  our  history  and 
literature  that  have  been  or  shall  have  been  produced. 

Resolutions  Adopted  October  22,  1901. 

I. 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  endorse  the  efforts  of  Hon.  John  H. 
Small  to  secure  an  appropriation  for  a  monument  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
on  Roanoke  Island. 

II. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  twenty-five,  to  be  selected  by  General 
Julian  S.  Carr,  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  appointed,  to  adopt  such 
measures  as  may  be  requisite  to  carry  into  effect  his  suggestions  for  col- 
lecting a  fund  to  erect  a  suitable  statue  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  our  capital 
city,  named  so  fitly  in  his  honor;  and  that  in  carrying  this  resolution  into 
effect  the  committee  have  in  mind  the  educational  value  of  giving  the 
people  an  opportunity  to  raise  this  fund  by  penny  collections,  so  that  all 
may  share  in  the  glory  of  thus  honoring  the  great  hero-martyr  of  Amer- 
ican colonization. 

Resolutions  Adopted  January  23,  1903. 

I. 

[A  resolution  was  adopted  at  this  meeting  urging  the  establishment  of 
the  State  Historical  Commission.  The  Secretary  unfortunately  has  been 
unable  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  resolution  as  passed.] 

II. 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  through  a  special  committee  to  be 
appointed  by  the  President,  request  the  General  Assembly  to  provide  for 


Resolutions  Adopted.  23 

six  rural  libraries  in  each  county  in  addition  to  the  number  now  pre- 
scribed by  the  Rural  Library  Act  of  the  last  General  Assembly. 

Resolutions  Adopted  November  12,  1903. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  seven,  as  follows:  Judge  Walter  Clark, 
Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe,  Judge  W.  A.  Montgomery,  Capt.  W.  R.  Bond,  Major 
H.  A.  London,  Judge  A.  C.  Avery,  Major  E.  J.  Hale,  be  appointed  to  take 
under  consideration  recent  allegations  in  regard  to  the  inaccuracy  of 
North  Carolina's  claims  of  its  part  in  the*  history  of  the  Civil  War,  and 
that  this  committee  report  to  the  next  meeting  of  this  Association  or 
sooner  through  the  press,  if  it  is  thought  advisable. 

Resolutions  Adopted  October  18,  19Q4-- 
I. 

Whereas,  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association  has  noted  with 
great  pleasure  the  continued  growth  of  the  rural  school  library  move- 
ment fostered  by  this  Society;  and 

Whereas,  the  State  appropriation  for  the  support  and  growth  of  the 
rural  libraries  is  already  practically  exhausted;  and 

Whereas,  the  interest  manifested  by  the  rural  districts  and  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  there  are  over  900  rural  libraries  containing  over  75,000 
volumes,  makes  it  necessary  that  this  movement  should  be  encouraged; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  1.  That  we  earnestly  urge  the  next  Legislature  to  continue 
this  appropriation  for  the  extension  of  the  rural  libraries. 

Resolved,  2.  That  a  committee  shall  be  appointed  to  urge  the  Legisla- 
ture to  continue  this  appropriation. 

II. 

Whereas,  there  are  in  the  State  Library  36,545  books  and  many  valua- 
ble pamphlets  and  annual  files  of  State  newspapers;  and 

Whereas,  many  of  these  books  and  papers  are  rare  and  of  so  great 
value  for  the  preservation  of  the  history  of  North  Carolina  that  their  loss 
by  fire  would  be  irreparable;  and 

Whereas,  it  is  desirable  to  add  to  this  valuable  collection  of  books  and 
papers  from  year  to  year  so  that  students  of  the  history  and  literature  of 
our  State  may  find  in  one  place  within  the  State  a  complete  collection  of 
literary  and  historical  material  for  their  investigation  and  study;  and 

Whereas,  a  large  and  valuable  collection  of  historical  relics  of  all  kinds 
has  been  brought  together  in  the  Hall  of  History,  practically  without 
expense  to  the  State;  and 

Whereas,  these  valuable  books  and  papers  and  these  valuable  historical 
relics  are  now  in  constant  danger  from  fire;  and 

Whereas,  many  other  valuable  historical  relics  might  be  secured  as 
loans  or  gifts  if  the  present  owners  of  them  could  have  assurance  of  their 
safety  and  preservation ;  and 

Whereas,  many  of  these  relics  unless  collected  soon  will  be  lost  forever 
to  the  State;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved  by  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association,  1.  That  the  State 


24         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

ought  to  erect  a  fireproof  building  as  a  means  of  protecting  its  present 
and  future  valuable  collections  of  the  books,  papers  and  historical  relics, 
and  as  a  means  of  inducing  owners  of  valuable  collections  of  historical 
and  literary  material  to  give,  lend  or  sell  them  to  the  State. 

Resolved,  2.  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  this  Association 
to  memorialize  the  next  General  Assembly  for  the  erection  of  such  a 
building. 

III. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  formulate  plans  to 
stimulate  the  study  of  local  history. 
The  duties  of  the  committee  shall  be: 

1.  To  publisljta  plan  for  the  organization  of  clubs  in  the  various  coun- 
ties of  the  State  for  the  study  of  the  history  of  the  county  in  which  a 
club  may  be  established. 

2.  To  collect,  as  far  as  possible,  the  papers  read  at  the  meetings  of  the 
clubs,  and  annually  to  submit  to  this  Society  and  to  the  newspapers  for 
publication  such  of  these  papers  as  may  seem  to  be  of  historic  value,  after 
they  have  been  offered  to  and  published  in  the  local  papers. 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH. 


Poem  Read  by  Prof.  Henry  Jeromk  Btocxasd  at  Second  Annual  Meeting 
or  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association,  October  22,  1901. 


He  is  not  greatest  who  with  pick  and  spade 
Makes  excavations  for  some  eplendid  fane; 
Nor  he  who  lays  with  trowel,  plumb,  and  line 
Upon  the  eternal  rock  its  base  of  stone: 
Nor  is  he  greatest  who  lifts  slow  its  walls, 
Flutes  its  white  pillars,  runs  its  architrave 
And  frieze  and  cornice,  sets  its  pictured  panes, 
And  points  its  airy  minarets  with  gold: 
Nor  he  who  peoples  angle,  niche,  and  aisle 
With  sculptured  angels,  and  with  symbol  graves 
Column  and  arch  and  nave  and  gallery: 
These  are  but  del  vers,  masons,  artisans, 
Each  working  out  his  part  of  that  vast  plan 
Projected  in  the  master  builder's  brain. 

And  he  who  wakes  the  organ's  soulful  tones. 
Faint,  far  away,  like  those  that  haply  steal  — 
The  first  notes  of  the  song  of  the  redeemed  — 
From  out  the  spirit-world  to  dying  ears; 
Or  rouses  it  in  lamentations  wild 
Of  Calvary,  or  moves  its  inmost  deeps 
With  sobs  and  cryings  unassuaged  that  touch 
The  heart  to  tears  for  unforgiven  sin, — 
He  voices  but  the  echo  of  that  hymn 
Whose  surges  shook  the  great  composer's  soul. 

Bold  admirals  of  the  vast  high  seas  of  dream, 
With  neither  chart  nor  azimuth  nor  star, 
That  push  your  prows  into  the  mighty  trades 
And  ocean  streams  towards  continents  unknown: 
Brave  pioneers  that  slowly  blaze  your  way 
And  set  your  cairns  for  people  yet  unborn 
Upon  imagination's  dim  frontiers, 
Ye  are  the  makers,  rulers  of  the  world  ! 

And  so  this  splendid  land  to  sunward  laid, 
With  opulent  fields  and  many  a  winding  stream 
And  virgin  wood:  with  stores  of  gems  and  veins 
Of  richest  ore:  with  mills  and  thronging  marts, 


26         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

The  domain  of  the  freest  of  the  free  — 
'Tis  but  the  substance  of  his  dream,  the  pure, 
The  true,  the  generous  knight  who  marked  its  bounds 
With  liberal  hand  by  interfusing  seas. 

What  though  no  sage  may  read  the  riddle  dark 

Of  Croatan,  that  band  diffused  through  marsh 

And  solitude?    Their  valor  did  not  die, 

But  is  incorporate  in  our  civic  life. 

They  were  of  those  that  fought  at  Bannockburn; 

Their  vital  spirits  spake  at  Mecklenburg; 

They  rose  at  Alamance,  at  Bethel  led, 

And  steered  at  Cardenas  straight  through  blinding  shells. 

They  live  to-day  and  shall  forever  live, 

Lifting  mankind  toward  freedom  and  toward  God. 

And  he  still  lives,  the  courteous  and  the  brave, 

Whose  life  went  out  in  seeming  dark  defeat. 

The  Tower  held  not  his  princely  spirit  immured; 

But  in  those  narrow  dungeon  walls  he  trod 

Kingdoms  unlimited  by  earthly  zones; 

Nor  holds  the  grave  his  peerless  soul  in  thrall; 

It  passed  those  dismal  portals  unafraid 

To  an  inheritance  beyond  decay 

Stored  in  the  love  and  gratitude  of  man. 

He  lives  in  this  fair  city,  noble  state, 

Puissant  land  —  in  all  each  hopes  to  be. 

He  was  the  impulse  to  these  later  deeds. 

He  lives  in  fateful  words  and  splendid  dreams, 

In  strenuous  actions  and  in  high  careers, 

An  inspiration  unto  loftier  things. 

Upon  the  scheme  of  ages,  man  shall  find 
Success  oft  failure,  failure  oft  success 
When  he  shall  read  the  record  of  the  years. 


On  ROflflOKE  ISLAND. 


Address  of  JUDGE  WALTER  CLARK  at  Meeting   Inaugurated 

by  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association, 

Manteo,  N.  C,  24,  July  1902. 


Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  Standing  on  the  Aventine  hill, 
by  the  banks  of  the  Tiber,  we  can  still  behold  the  cradle  of  the 
great  Roman  people,  the  beginning  of  that  imperial  race 
which  for  centuries  held  in  its  control  the  entire  civilized 
world  of  their  day  and  whose  laws,  whose  feats  of  arms,  whose 
thought,  have  profoundly  impressed  all  succeeding  ages. 

HERE    BEGAN    THE    GREATEST    MOVEMENT    OF    THE    AGES. 

Standing  here  we  see  the  spot  where  first  began  on  this 
continent  the  great  race  which  in  the  New  World  in  three 
hundred  years  has  far  surpassed  in  extent  of  dominion,  in 
population  and  power  the  greatest  race  known  to  the  Old. 
Farther  than  the  imperial  eagles  ever  flew,  over  more  men 
than  its  dominion  ever  swayed,  with  wealth  which  dwarfs  its 
boasted  treasures,  and  intelligence  and  capacity  unknown  to 
its  rulers,  this  new  race  in  three  centuries  has  covered  a  con- 
tinent, crossed  great  rivers,  built  great  cities,  tunneled  moun- 
tains, traversed  great  plains,  scaled  mountain  ranges  and  halt- 
ing but  for  a  moment  on  the  shores  of  a  vaster  ocean,  has  al- 
ready annexed  a  thousand  islands  and  faces  the  shores  of  a 
Western  continent  so  distant  that  we  call  it  the  East. 

We  do  well  to  come  here  to  visit  the  spot  where  this  great 
movement  began.  It  was  one  of  the  great  epochs  of  all  history. 
Here,  36  years  before  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  at  Ply- 
mouth Rock,  here  23  years  before  John  Smith  and  James- 
town, in  the  year  1584,  the  first  English  keel  grated  on  the 
shores  of  what  is  now  the  United  States.  Here  the  greatest 
movement  of  the  ages  began,  which  has  completed  the  circuit 
of  the  globe.  For  thousands  of  years,  God  in  His  wisdom, 
had  hidden  this  land  behind  the  billows  till  His  appointed 
time,  and  in  Europe  and  Asia  millions  had  fought  and  perish- 


28         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

ed  for  the  possession  of  narrow  lands.  The  human  intellect 
had  been  dwarfed  with  the  dimensions  of  its  prison  house. 
In  due  season  Copernicus  gauged  the  heavens,  revealing  count- 
less worlds  beyond  our  grasp  and  Columbus  almost  at  the 
same  time  unveiled  this  tangible  world  beyond  the  Atlantic. 
Stunned,  dazed,  the  mind  of  man  slowly  realized  the  broad- 
ened vision  unrolled  before  it.  Since  then  the  energies  of 
the  human  intellect  have  steadily  expanded,  and  thought  has 
widened  with  the  process  of  every  sun. 

Here  broke  the  spray  of  the  first  wave  of  Saxon  population 
and  now  westward  across  the  continent  to  the  utmost  verge 
and  beyond  it,  there  rolls  a  human  sea.  Three  centuries  have 
done  this. 

About  this  very  date  Amadas  and  Barlow  landed  here,  for 
on  July  4,  a  day  doubly  memorable  on  these  shores,  they  de- 
scried land  and  sailing  up  the  coast  120  miles  they  entered 
with  their  two  small  vessels  through  an  inlet,  probably  now 
closed.  Proceeding  further  they  came  abreast  of  this  island, 
where  they  landed  and  were  hospitably  received. 

what  wondrous  changes. 

Nature  remains  unaltered.  As  on  that  July  day,  of  the 
long  ago,  earth,  air  and  sky  and  sea  remain  the  same.  The 
same  blue  arch  bends  above  us.  The  same  restless  ocean  rolls. 
The  same  sun  shines  brightly  down.  The  same  balmy  breezes 
breathe  soft  and  low.  The  same  headlands  jut  out  to  meet 
the  waves.  The  same  bays  lie  open  to  shelter  the  coming  ves- 
sels. The  trees,  the  foliage,  the  landmarks,  would  all  be  recog- 
nized by  the  sea-worn  wanderers  of  that  memorable  day. 
But  as  to  what  is  due  to  man,  how  altered ! 

To  the  westward,  where  the  Indian  paddled  his  light  canoe 
on  great  rivers,  innumerable  vessels,  moved  by  the  energies 
of  steam,  plow  the  waters,  freighted  with  the  produce  of  ev- 
ery industry  and  the  produce  of  every  clime.  Where  the 
smoke  of  the  lonely  wigwam  rose,  now  the  roar  of  great  cities 
fills  the  ear  and  the  blaze  of  electric  lights  reddens  the  sky. 
Where  then  amid  vast  solitudes  the  war-whoop  resoundedj 
boding  death  and  torture,  now  rise  a  thousand  steeples  and 
anthems  to  the  Prince  of  Peace  float  upon  the  air.  Where 
the  plumed  and  painted  warrior  stealthily  trod  the  narrow 


On  Roanoke  Island.  29 

war    path,    mighty   engines   rush.     Where   a   few   thousand 

naked  savages  miserably  starve.  1  and  fought  and  perished, 
near  one  hundred  millions  of  the  foremost  people  of  all  the 
world  live  and  prosper.  Three  short  centuries  have  seen  this 
done. 

OUR   CONTRIBUTION    TO   EUROPE. 

Looking  eastward  the  ocean  rolls  unchanged,  but  not  as 
then  to  be  crossed  only  after  two  or  three  months  of  voyage. 
Already  a  week  suffices  for  its  passage  and  across  its  waves 
even  now  messages  flash  without  the  medium  of  wires.  Be- 
yond its  shores  is  also  a  new  world.  When  the  first  expedi- 
tion landed  here,  the  Turk  was  threatening  Vienna,  and  the 
Spaniard  was  asserting  his  right  to  burn  and  pillage  in  Hol- 
land. The  fires  of  the  Inquisition  burned  in  Spain  and  Bel- 
gium. France,  sunk  to  a  second-class  power,  grovelled  be- 
neath the  rule  of  one  of  the  most  worthless  of  its  many  worth- 
ies- kings,  the  third  Henry — while  England,  the  England  of 
Drake  and  Raleigh,  of  Shakespeare  and  Bacon,  and  of  Eliza- 
beth, already  lay  beneath  the  growing  shadow  of  the  xVrmada, 
whose  success  threatened  the  extinction  of  English  liberty 
and  of  the  Protestant  religion.  Russia  was  then  a  small  col- 
lection of  barbarous  tribes  and  Germany  and  Italy,  not  yet 
nations,  were  mere  geographical  expressions.  Contrast  that 
with  the  Europe  of  to-day.  The  change  is  barely  less  start- 
ling there  than  on  this  side  of  the  water. 

The  change  has  been  greatly  the  reflex  action  from  this 
side.  Civilization  has  been  and  is  on  the  steady  increase  in 
the  betterment  of  the  masses.  The  leaders  of  thought,  Shake- 
speare, Bacon,  Michael  Angelo,  Dante,  Petrarch,  the  painters, 
the  sculptors,  the  statesmen,  were  as  great  then  as  since.  The 
difference  is  in  the  masses.  Then  they  were  degraded,  dis- 
regarded, beaten  with  many  stripes,  dying  like  animals  after 
living  like  brutes ;  to-day  they  have  a  voice  in  every  govern- 
ment and  are  beginning  more  fully  to  perceive  that  they  have 
unlimited  power  which  they  can  use  for  their  own  advance- 
ment and  the  betterment  of  their  material  surroundings. 

The  change  started  here  when  a  new  race  began,  without 
feudal  burdens  and  amid  the  breadth  and  freedom  of  un- 
trammeled  nature.     With  new  paths  to  tread,  new  roads  to 


30         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

make,  new  rivers  to  travel,  new  cities  to  build,  men  began  to 
think  new  thoughts  and  to  add  to  the  freedom  of  nature  the 
liberty  of  speech  and  of  action. 

WHERE  THE  SHACKLES  OF  THE  AGES  WERE  BROKEN. 

Well  do  we  come  here  to  visit  the  spot  where  the  shackles 
of  the  ages  were  broken,  precedents  forgotten  and  where  man 
first  began  to  stand  upright  in  the  likeness  in  which  God  had 
made  him. 

ISTaught  tells  more  forcibly  the  depression  in  which  the 
minds  of  the  men  of  that  day  were  held  than  the  fact  that  the 
hardy  English  mariners,  the  descendants  of  the  Vikings  of 
old,  delayed  nearly  a  century  after  Columbus  had  discovered 
the  New  World  before  the  foot  of  an  Anglo-Saxon  had  trod 
the  shores  of  North  America.  From  the  discovery  in  1492 
to  the  first  landing  here  in  1584  and  the  first  permanent  but 
feeble  settlement  at  Jamestown  in  1607  was  a  long  time. 
Could  another  new  continent  such  as  this  be  discovered  in 
3,000  miles  of  London  to-day,  not  as  many  hours  would  elapse 
as  our  ancestors  of  three  centuries  ago  permitted  years  to  pass, 
before  the  English  race  would  land  on  its  shores.  In  1520 
Cortez  led  the  Spaniards  to  the  Plateau  of  Mexico  and  sub- 
verted an  empire.  Yet  65  years  more  passed  before  Amadas 
and  Barlow  led  the  first  English  expedition  to  land  on  this 
continent. 

Not  only  were  men's  minds  enthralled  by  governments 
which  existed  solely  for  the  benefit  of  the  few,  but  the  condi- 
tion of  the  upper  classes  was  only  in  degree  better  than  that 
of  the  poorer.  Coffee,  sugar,  tobacco,  potatoes  and  other 
articles  of  common  use  by  the  poorest  to-day  were  unknown. 
Queen  Elizabeth  herself  lived  on  beer  and  beef,  and  forks 
being  unknown  that  haughty  lady  ate  with  her  fingers,  as  did 
Shakespeare,  Raleigh  and  Bacon.  Articles  of  the  commonest 
use  and  necessity  in  the  dwellings  of  the  poorest  now,  were 
then  not  to  be  obtained  in  the  palaces  of  Kings.  Carpets 
were  absent  in  the  proudest  palaces  and  on  the  fresh  strewn 
rushes  beneath  their  tables  princes  and  kings  threw  the  bones 
and  broken  meats  from  their  feasts.  Religion  was  to  most 
a  gross  superstition,  law  was  a  jargon  and  barbarous,  and  med- 
icine the  vilest  quackery.     Just  in  proportion  as  the  masses 


On  Roanokk  Island.  31 

have  been  educated,  as  freedom  has  been  won  by  them,  as 
their  rights  have  been  considered,  the  world  has  advanced 
in  civilization  and  in  material  well  being. 

Unlike  the  founding  of  Rome,  where  the  seat  of  Empire 
abode  by  its  cradle,  no  great  cities  arose  here  at  Roanoke  Is- 
land, at  Jamestown  nor  at  Plymouth.  The  new  movement 
begun  here  was  not  for  empire  but  for  the  people  and  it  has 
advanced  and  spread  in  all  directions. 

THE    GREAT    DANGER    TO-DAY. 

In  1820  Daniel  Webster  delivered  a  memorable  oration  at 
the  anniversary  of  the  landing  at  Plymouth  Rock.  In  that 
speech  he  prophesied  that  our  free  government  could  stand 
only  so  long  as  there  was  a  tolerable  equality  in  the  division 
of  property.  What  would  he  say  could  he  stand  here  to-day 
and  count  over  the  names  of  those  possessed  of  $20,000,000, 
of  $50,000,000,  of  $100,000,000,  even  of  more  than  $200,- 
000,000,  and  name  over  the  great  trusts  and  corporations  who 
levy  taxes  and  contributions  at  their  own  will,  greater  than 
those  exacted  for  all  the  purposes  of  government?  He  in- 
stances that  when  the  great  monasteries  and  other  church  cor- 
porations under  the  Tudors  threatened  English  prosperity  the 
eighth  Henry  confiscated  their  property  (as  has  been  done  in 
our  day  by  Mexico  and  other  Latin  countries)  and  re-distrib- 
uted their  accumulations.  He  might  have  added  that  when 
the  new  commercial  monopolies  under  his  daughter  Elizabeth 
bade  fair  to  take  the  place  of  the  suppressed  ecclesiastical 
foundations  in  re-creating  inequality,  the  Commons  called 
on  her  to  pause  and  that  haughty,  unbending  sovereign  had 
the  common  sense  to  save  her  throne  by  yielding. 

Mr.  Webster  also  utilized  the  occasion  to  point  to  the  fact 
that  in  France  by  her  exemption  of  nobles  and  priests  from 
taxation,  property  had  gravitated  into  their  hands  till  the 
wild  orgy  of  revolution  had  re-transferred  it  to  the  people 
and  he  prophesied  that  the  new  law  in  that  country  which 
by  restricting  the  right  to  will  property  had  prevented  its 
accumulation  into  a  few  hands  would  inevitably  destroy  the 
restored  monarchy  and  rebuild  the  republic.  His  prophecy 
has  come  true. 


32         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

The  great  expounder  of  the  constitution  was  right.  Power 
goes  with  those  who  own  the  property  of  the  country.  When 
property  is  widely  distributed  and  a  fair  share  of  the  com- 
forts of  life  are  equally  in  the  reach  of  all,  a  country  will  re- 
main a  republic.  When  property,  by  whatever  agency,  be- 
comes concentrated  in  a  few  hands,  a  change  is  impending. 
Either  the  few  holders  will  bring  in,  as  he  stated,  an  army 
that  will  change  the  government  to  a  monarchy,  or  revolution 
will  force  a  redistribution  as  in  England  and  France.  That 
has  been  the  lesson  of  history. 

In  this  day,  of  wider  intelligence  and  general  education, 
let  us  hope  and  believe  that  there  is  a  third  way,  hitherto  un- 
known in  practice,  and  that  by  the  operation  of  just  and  wiser 
laws  enacted  by  the  sovereignty  of  the  people,  a  more  just  and 
equal  distribution  of  wealth  will  follow  and  the  enjoyment  of 
material  well  being  will  be  more  generally  diffused  among  the 
masses.  All  power  is  derived  from  and  belongs  to  the  people 
and  should  be  used  solely  for  their  good.  This  is  the  funda- 
mental teaching  of  the  institutions  which  begin  their  record 
from  the  landing  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  on  these  shores,  a 
landing  which  was  first  made  at  this  spot. 

Had  I  the  ability  of  Mr.  Webster,  could  I  speak  with  his 
authority,  I  might  point  out  as  he  did  the  great  danger  of  the 
accumulation  of  wealth  in  a  few  hands,  and  might  foresee  and 
foretell  the  remedies  which  a  great,  a  wise  and  an  all-powerful 
people  will  apply.  But  I  shall  not  follow  in  the  path  which 
he  has  trod,  hand  passibus  equis. 

Let  us  not  forget  on  this  occasion  that  to  this  island  belongs 
the  distinguished  honor  of  being  the  birth-place  of  the  first 
American  girl.  It  is  the  Eden  from  which  she  sprung.  She 
had  no  predecessor  and  remains  without  a  model  and  without 
a  rival.  In  that  first  Eden  man  was  the  first  arrival  and  the 
garden  was  a  failure.  Here  the  girl  was  the  first  arrival  and 
the  boys  have  followed  her  ever  since.  Appropriately  she 
bore  the  name  of  Dare,  and  daring,  delightful,  her  successors 
have  been  ever  since.  We  do  well,  were  we  to  come  here  sole- 
ly to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  first  American  girl,  this 
finished,  superlative  product  of  her  sex  and  of  these  later 
ages. 


On  Roanoke  Island.  33 

noeth   caeolina's  futuee. 

When  the  first  expedition  landed  here  there  were,  it  is  esti- 
mated, in  the  bounds  of  the  present  State  of  North  Carolina, 
20,000  Indians,  earning  a  precarious  living  by  fishing  and 
hunting  and  spending  their  miserable  lives  in  slaying  and  tor- 
turing one  another.  To-day  we  have  near  2,000,000  of  the 
foremost  race  of  all  the  world,  living  in  peace  and  order. 
Could  I  like  Mr.  Webster,  in  his  Plymouth  Rock  oration, 
prophecy  as  to  the  future — 100  Jlu$I%ilence — I  should  predict 
a  still  greater  change.  I  .should  say  that  with  the  same  rate 
of  increase  North  Carolina  will  then  have  6,000,000  of  people 
and  that  cities  of  100,000  inhabitants  will  be  numbered  by 
the  score;  that  every  village  will  be  connected  with  its  neigh- 
bor by  electric  roads,  for  steam  will  have  ceased  to  be  a  motive 
power;  that  education  will  be  universal  and  poverty  un- 
known ;  that  every  swamp  will  have  been  drained  to  become 
the  seat  of  happy  homes ;  that  every  river  will  be  deepened 
and  straightened ;  that  public  works  operated  for  the  benefit 
of  the  people  and  not  for  the  enrichment  of  a  few,  will  bring 
comforts  and  conveniences,  now  unknown,  to  the  most  distant 
fireside;  that  the  hours  of  labor  will  be  shortened;  that  the 
toil  of  agriculture  will  be  done  by  machinery  and  that  irriga- 
tion will  have  banished  droughts ;  that  the  advance  of  medi- 
cine, already  the  most  progressive  science  among  us,  will  have 
practically  abolished  all  diseases  save  that  of  old  age ;  that 
simpler  laws  and  an  elevated  and  all-powerful  public  opinion 
will  have  minimized  crime  and  reduced  the  volume  of  liti- 
gation; that  religion  less  sectarian  and  disputatious  about 
'.-reeds  and  forms  will  be  a  practical  exemplification  of  that 
love  of  fellow-man  which  was  typified  by  its  divine  founder; 
that  every  toiler  with  brain  or  with  hand  will  prosper  and  that 
under  juster  laws  the  only  inequality  in  wealth  or  condition 
will  be  that  due  to  the  difference  in  the  energy,  efforts  and 
natural  gifts  of  each  possessor. 

This  is  but  the  first  of  many  successive  celebrations  of  the 
landing  here  and  if  these  feeble,  fugitive  words  shall  be  pre- 
served to  that  distant  day  the  speaker  who  shall  read  them  to 
a  vast  audience  gathered  here  will  either  justify  the  prophecy 
or  at  least  he  will  say,  ''Tn  the  interest  of  the  happiness  of 
the  human  race,  they  ought  to  have  come  true." 
3 


THE  ENRICHMENT  OF  COUNTRY  LIFE. 


Address  by  PRESIDENT  W.  L.  POTEAT  at  Fourth  Annual  Meeting 

of  North  Carolina  State  Literary  and  Historical 

Association.  November  V2,  1903. 


The  world  is  too  much  with  ns;  late  and  soon, 
Getting  and  spending,  we  lay  waste  our  powers: 
Little  we  see  in  Nature  that  ib  ours; 
We  have  given  our  hearts  away,  a  sordid  boon  ! 
The  Sea  that  bears  her  bosom  to  the  moon; 
The  winds  that  will  be  howling  at  all  hours, 
And  are  up-gathered  now  like  sleeping  flowers; 
For  this,  for  everything,  we  are  out  of  tune; 
It  moves  us  not. — Great  God!     I'd  rather  be 
A  Pagan  suckled  in  a  creed  outworn; 
So  might  I,  standing  on  this  pleasant  lea. 
Have  glimpses  that  would  make  me  less  forlorn; 
Have  sight  of  Ptoteus  rising  from  the  sea, 
Or  hear  old  Triton  blow  his  wreathed  horn. 

— W  ORDS  WORTH. 

Permit  me  first  of  all  to  refer  to  the  genuine  pleasure  with 
which  I  have  regarded  my  connection  with  the  North  Caro- 
lina Literary  and  Historical  Association,  not  only  because  of 
its  high  aims,  but  also  because  of  the  honorable  record  which 
it  has  made  since  its  organization  a  little  more  than  three 
years  ago.  I  wish,  moreover,  to  take  this  first  opportunity  to 
say  that  I  have  appreciated  the  kindness  which  put  me  into 
this  official  relation  to  the  Association.  The  distinction  of 
your  favor  has  been  a  happiness  to  me  whenever  it  rose  into 
consciousness  during  the  whole  year  now  closing,  except — 
I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  but  one  is  under  bonds  to  speak  the 
truth — a  happiness,  I  say,  except  for  the  past  fortnight, 
through  which  the  entailed  obligation  of  this  address  has 
walked  like  a  ghost  to  disturb  my  peace.  This  official  tradi- 
tion from  honored  predecessors,  they  will  allow  me  to  say,  is 
quite  a  empty  inheritance.  If  along  with  the  necessity  of 
the  presidential  address  one  got  also  the  substance  of  it,  the 
task  of  following  them  would  not  be  so  hard. 

Other  gentlemen  will  present  to  you  important  and  inter- 
esting matters  about  which  the  Association  has  been  occupied 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.  35 

since  its  last  annual  session.     From  them  I  detain  you  this 
thirty  minutes  to  speak  of — 

THE  ENRICHMENT  OF  COUNTRY  LIFE. 

I  venture  to  think  that  this  subject,  irrelevant  as  it  may 
seem  to  be  at  first  thought,  touches  in  reality  the  very 
foundations  of  all  we  hope  for  as  members  of  this  body 
and  citizens  of  this  State.  Ours  is  a  rural  community,  and 
in  spite  of  the  late  irruption  of  steam  and  its  iron  wheels,  I 
tragi  it  is  decreed  above  that  it  shall  remain  a  rural  commun- 
ity. The  history  which  we  wish  to  make  and  to  record,  the 
literature  which  we  wish  to  evoke  and  to  scatter ;  in  short,  the 
manhood  and  womanhood  which  we  wish  to  grow  and  to 
brighten  must  be  in  the  country  and  of  the  country.  And 
observe,  this  fact  is  not  a  handicap,  but  a  call  and  a  guarantee. 
To  see-that  it  is  so,  let  me  remind  you  that  mankind  in  its 
long  world-history  has  shown  itself  to  be  most  responsive  to 
the  moulding  action  of  external  natural  conditions.  The  po- 
litical history  of  a  country,  as  Sir  Archibald  Geikie  has  dem- 
onstrated, is  largely  predetermined  by  its  geological  history. 
The  sifting  out  and  distribution  of  the  elements  of  a  com- 
posite population,  the  development  of  the  national  industries 
and  commerce,  the  localization  of  the  vocations  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, are  directly  controlled  by  its  physical  features.  But 
the  influence  of  land  contour  and  water  and  sky  penetrates 
beyond  these  externals  of  life.  It  extends  into  the  sphere  of 
the  spirit,  and  with  an  intimate  and  subtle  power  applied  for 
generations  with  a  pressure  so  constant  as  to  be  unconscious, 
it  transforms  in  the  end  the  very  temperament  and  character 
of  a  people.  The  Celt  of  Ireland  and  the  Celt  of  the  Scottish 
Highlands,  for  example,  were  originally  the  same  type  of 
man — light  of  heart,  witty,  and  impulsive.  This  Celtic  tem- 
perament in  the  congenial  environment  of  the  great  grassy 
plains  of  the  Emerald  Isle  has  undergone  little  change;  but 
in  the  lonely  wind-grieved  glens  of  the  Highlands  with  their 
ungenerous  soil  and  cold,  wet  climate,  under  the  perpetual 
f  rown  of  mist-wreathed  mountains,  this  sunny  gaiety  has  been 
chilled  and  sobered  into  what  we  now  know  as  the  Highland- 
er's reserve  and  melancholy — a  gloomy  stubbornness  of  nature 
like  that  of  his  own  granite  hills. 


36         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Not  only  so.  When  man  and  nature  have  thus  given  and 
taken  and  come  to  an  understanding  with  each  other ;  when 
man  finds  his  place  in  nature  and  settles  into  it,  he  finds  him- 
self also.  He  comes  to  his  own  in  capacity  to  grow,  or  to 
endure,  or  to  achieve.  He  is  in  the  condition  of  stable  equilib- 
rium, set  broad-based  like  a  granite  pyramid  and  ready  for 
whatever  Heaven  may  send.  This  alliance  with  nature  is  his 
strength.  And  so  it  has  turned  out  that  the  man  of  the  field 
is  the  man  of  the  world.  The  history  of  civilization  can 
hardly  be  said  to  begin  until  man  roots  himself  in  some  loved 
spot  of  ground.  Once  rooted— whether  by  Nile,  or  Euphra- 
tes, or  Indus,  or  Rhine — his  plow  and  axe  lay  the  foundations 
of  civilized  life,  or  upon  demand  turn  sword  and  spear  to  de- 
fend it.  From  the  days  when  the  old  Saxon,  standing 
astride  his  furrows,  changed  a  transient  defeat  into  an  endur- 
ing victory  over  Angle  and  Dane  and  Norman,  down  to  Con- 
cord where 

Once  the  embattled  farmers  stood 

And  fired  the  shot  heard  round  the  world, 

your  Anglo-Saxon  farmer  has  been  your  prime  maker  of  his- 
tory. 

Moreover,  your  farmer,  if  he  is  not  himself  historian  or 
poet,  is  the  father  of  the  historian  and  the  poet,  for  country 
life  is  the  native  soil  of  literature.  The  literature  of  which 
T  speak  here  is  the  "literature  of  power"  as  distinguished  by 
De  Quincey  from  the  mere  "literature  of  knowledge".  Amid 
the  bloodless  conventions  and  social  vanities  of  the  city,  its 
tension  and  artificial  modes  of  life,  literature  wilts  and  per- 
ishes. It  must  have  solitude  and  time  in  which  to  germinate. 
Its  life  is  in  its  unfettered  spontaneity,  and  the  free  winds 
that  blow  under  the  open  sky  are  its  sustaining  breath.  The 
country  produces  the  man,  the  country  fills  his  heart  up  with 
materials,  the  country  bids  him  write.  Whether  literature 
concern  itself  with  the  details  or  the  wider  aspects  of  nature, 
with  the  passions  or  the  occupations  of  men,  its  best  examples 
will  be  supplied  by  the  incidents  and  situations  of  common 
life  under  natural  external  conditions.  More  than  a  hundred 
years  ago  Wordsworth  called  men's  minds  anew  and  for  all 
time  to  the  literary  fruitfulness  of  the  simple  life  of  the  coun- 
try, and  gave  the  reasons  why  he  rebelled  against  the  literary 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.  37 

canons  of  his  day,  and  chose  to  delineate  humble  and  rustic 
life.  A  similar  reversion  to  what  is  simple  and  native  is 
Dante's  adoption  of  his  mother-tongue,  instead  of  Latin,  for 
his  immortal  song,  which  violation  of  tradition  he  feels  call- 
ed upon  to  justify  at  some  length  in  the  Convito.  As  that 
choice  created  Italian  literature,  so  in  more  recent  yean 
the  new  Provencal  poetry  dates  from  the  day  when  Kouma- 
nillc  resolved  to  write  no  more  poems  in  French,  which  his 
mother  could  not  understand,  but  to  write  only  in  the  dialect 
of  his  native  province.  Is  it  not  true  that  every  period  of 
renewal  in  the  history  of  literature  is  a  period  of  a  freshened 
communication  with  nature,  either  in  a  clear  look  into  the 
face  of  the  great  world  outside  us,  or  in  a  new  discovery  of  the 
elementary  and  therefore  universal  simplicities  of  the  great 
world  within? 

But  what  is  to  be  said  of  Charles  Lamb  and  the  emotion 
which  the  throngs  and  roar  of  London  stirred  in  him  ?  In  an 
intimate  letter  he  exclaims,  "Hills,  woods,  lakes,  and  moun- 
tains to  the  eternal  devil!"  And  one  recalls  a  memorable 
night  when  this  same  London  seen  from  a  height  to  the  east, 
appeared  to  the  youthful  Robert  Browning  to  be  more  won- 
derful and  appalling  than  all  the  host  of  stars.  A  living 
American  poet  declares  that  he  is  not  dependent  upon  his  life 
in  the"  Berkshire  Hills  for  literary  stimulus.  He  finds 
poetic  inspiration  in  the  teeming  life  of  Broadway.  "You 
see,"  said  he,  "I  have  farmed  New  York.  In  the  work  of 
tenement  reform  I  moulded  the  city  and  worked  and  reworked 
it;"  and  his  fingers  moved  vigorously  as  in  the  act  of  knead- 
ing dough.  And  one  thinks  of  the  stately  urban  Milton, 
of  the  old-world  idyllic  poet  Theocritus  and  his  enjoyment  of 
the  city  life  of  his  native  Syracuse,  and  of  other  city-bred 
find  city-loving  makers  of  the  highest  forms  of  literature. 
Do  such  cases  invalidate  what  we  were  just  now  thinking,  that 
country  life  is  the  proper  soil  for  the  germination  and  growth 
of  this  fine  plant?  On  the  contrary,  they  establish  it.  Not 
as  exceptions  are  said  to  establish  rules,  but  because  they  are 
really  illustrations  of  our  proposition.  They  all  may  be  fair- 
ly set  out  in  two  groups.  One  group,  of  which  Milton  is  an 
example,  embraces  authors  who  feed  on  other  authors  who, 
in  their  turn,  fed  on  nature.  They  are  like  the  flesh-eating 
animals  which  only  in  appearance  violate  the  naturalist's  law 

302509 


38         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

that  animal  life  is  dependent  upon  plant  life :  they  get  their 
plants  by  way  of  other  animals.  The  second  group  embraces 
authors  like  Theocritus  who  love  their  Syracuse,  but,  with  the 
breath  of  the  rural  Pan  upon  them,  love  yet  more  the  cliffs 
and  snow-fed  streams  of  a  near-by  Etna,  the  fisher-huts  and 
fragrant  forests  of  the  coast.  A  New  York  writer  in  a 
wholly  incidental  way  makes  this  significant  confession:  "I 
had  succeeded  in  laying  up  provisions  enough  to  last  me  while 
I  wrote  another  book,  and  I  fled  away  to  put  up  my  tent  in 
the  wilderness."  Even  while  they  are  in  the  city  and  under 
its  spell,  that  which  so  arouses  these  spirits  is  not  its  endless 
walls  of  brick,  its  miles  of  stony  pavement,  its  lights  and 
shows,  its  pageantries  of  wealth  and  power.  It  is  rather  that 
particular  piece  of  universal  nature,  humanity,  that  struggles 
blindly  on  these  pavements,  or  festers  in  the  dens  below  them 
— life's  tragic  significance  exhibited  where  life  converges  to 
a  throbbing  focus.  There  has  never  lived  a  more  fervid  lover 
of  field  and  wood  and  sea  and  sky  than  Richard  Jefferies.  He 
tells  us  that  in  front  of  the  Royal  Exchange  in  London  the 
wide  pavement  juts  out  like  a  promontory  into  the  whirlpool 
of  human  life  which  swirls  and  dashes  there  day  and  night. 
It  was  his  habit  to  stand  on  the  apex  of  this  promontory  to 
ponder,  and  in  that  spot  he  felt  the  presence  of  the  resistless 
forces  of  the  universe  as  strongly  as  when  he  lay  in  a  remote 
valley  carved  out  in  pre-historic  time.  That  is  to  say,  nature 
cannot  be  wholly  cast  out  even  by  the  artificialities  of  city 
life,  and  these  city-born  stirrings  of  the  poetic  impulse  are 
due  to  the  breath  of  country  life  which  is  not  yet  smothered 
beneath  unnatural  conditions. 

i.     the   wandering. 

The  blessings  of  attachment  to  the  soil  are, — that  primary 
one  of  harmony  with  nature,  which  draws  after  it  a  bright 
retinue  of  dependents;  the  opportunity  of  self-realization  in 
an  atmosphere  of  independence  and  freedom  and  repose; 
exemption  from  the  pettinesses  and  moral  obliquities  which 
swarm  on  the  surface  of  a  crowded  and  conventional  life. 
But  distinct  as  they  are  and  excellent  both  for  character  and 
for  conduct,  they  do  not  seem  greatly  to  impress  the  average 
man.     He  may  go  so  far  as  to  admit  them  in  theory,  but  he 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Liik.  39 

declines  to  be  practically  influenced  by  them.  While  he  is 
singing  the  praises"  of  rural  life,  he  packs  up  for  the  city. 
This  impulse  to  wander  forth  from  nature  and  gather  into  the 
city  group  is  well-nigh  as  old  as  mankind  itself.  It  was  the 
second  man,  who,  as  we  read  in  an  ancient  writing,  went  out 
from  his  flocks  and  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  build- 
ed  a  city.  Fear  lay  back  of  this  primitive  wandering,  fear 
of  nature's  vast  solitudes  and  of  the  marauding  children  of 
the  wilderness.  But  the  modern  drift  into  the  city,  which 
gained  in  the  last  century  an  unprecedented  volume  and  im- 
petus, is  determined  by  other  causes.  Allow  me  to  suggest 
some  of  them: 

1.  The  materialistic  habit  established  in  the  long  struggle 
for  physical  comfort  becomes  inveterate  and  demands  a  wider 
field  for  exploitation  with  the  chance  of  quicker  gains. 

2.  The  substitution  of  machinery  for  human  labor  in  so 
many  agricultural  processes. 

3.  The  application  of  machinery  to  manufacturing  proc- 
esses, which  localizes  manufactures  in  centers  of  population. 

4.  The  development  of  transportation,  whereby  it  becomes 
possible  and  convenient  for  the  rustic  family  to  reach  the  city, 
as  well  as  food  supplies  for  a  practically  unlimited  number*. 

You  observe  that  these  are  mainly  economic  facts,  and  in 
the  light  of  them  the  movement  to  the  city,  which  is  a  world 
phenomenon,  is  seen  to  be  the  result,  not  so  much  of  a  social 
or  aesthetic  preference,  as  of  an  economic  compulsion.  Tt 
will  continue  so  long  as  these  conditions  obtain,  or  until  equal- 
ly powerful  conditions  arise  to  oppose  it  Excepting  such  as 
I  shall  refer  to  later,  the  only  check  which  is  as  yet  above  the 
horizon  is  the  relation  of  the  external  food  supply  to  the  grow- 
ing mass.  Certainly  the  mere  preaching  of  the  charms  of  the 
country-side  will  limit  the  rural  exodus  no  more  than  the  old 
royal  proclamations  dammed  back  the  currents  which  swelled 
too  fast  the  population  of  London. 

The  results  of  the  drift  to  the  city,  from  the  point  of  view 
of  the  country,  are  even  more  manifest  than  its  causes.  The 
first  result  is  sparseness  of  the  rural  population.  I  need  not 
remind  von  that  in  this  condition  the  most  serious  of  our 
rural  problems  take  their  rise.     This  is  what  renders  provis- 


<C.  J.  Strong,  The  Twentieth  Century  City,  p.  34  f. 


40         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

ion  for  the  religious  and  educational  needs  of  the  country 
districts  so  difficult.  A  second  result  is  perhaps  more  disas- 
trous. Not  only  are  there  few  left,  but  the  average  quality 
of  these  few  suffers  by  the  fact  that  the  city  appeals  with  es- 
pecial force  to  the  brighter  and  more  enterprising  section  of 
the  community.  And  what  would  the  city  do  without  these 
bright  barbarians  from  the  woods  ?  They  are  its  life  and 
pass  into  it  as  so  much  fresh  arterial  blood  to  renew  its  jaded 
physique.  But  what  a  disaster  to  country  life.  This  policy 
of  giving  its  choicest  product  to  the  city  without  return  is  a 
violation  of  one  of  the  primary  principles  of  good  farming, 
and  the  fact  that  country  life  goes  forward  at  all  under  this 
unbroken  and  costly  drain  is  the  highest  possible  proof  of  its 
inexhaustible  fertility.  But  this  depletion  cannot  go  on  in- 
definitely at  an  increasing  rate  without  serious  loss  to  the  to- 
tality of  our  civilization,  to  the  country  clearly  and  none  the 
less  to  the  city,  whose  very  sources  of  maintenance  and  re- 
newal it  inevitably  contracts. 

It  will  not  be  a  cheering  task,  though  it  may  be  a  whole- 
some one,  to  look  more  particularly  at  the  general  situation 
and  recognize  the  several  items  which  make  up  for  us  what 
we  may  call — 

II.     the  lost  estate. 

And  first  we  must  set  down  the  poverty  of  country  life 
itself.  "Sure  good,"  says  Buskin,  "is  first  in  feeding  people, 
then  in  dressing  people,  then  in  lodging  people,  and  lastly  in 
rightly  pleasing  people,  with  arts,  or  sciences,  or  any  other 
subject  of  thought."  How  much  of  the  "sure  good"  in  these 
several  particulars  does  the  country  dweller  enjoy,  not  indeed 
at  another's  hand  but  at  his  own  ?  He  feeds  the  world,  and 
that  is  his  chief  contribution  to  its  welfare.  How  does  he 
feed  his  own  family?  It -must  be  owned  that  the  farmer's 
family  is  too  often  underfed,  the  food  lacks  the  requisite  nu- 
tritive value  and  palatableness ;  and  this  not  because  of  nig- 
gardliness, but  ignorance  of  food-stuffs  and  the  modes  of  pre- 
paring them.  There  results  a  low  chronic  dyspepsia  which 
advertises  itself  in  men  who  are  sallow  in  spite  of  their  active 
life  in  the  open,  and  in  women  who  look  pinched  and  fade 
prematurely  into  decrepitude.  Now,  whatever  the  teachers 
of  ethics  may  say,  there  is  surely  some  connection  between 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.  41 

diet  and  morals,  as  there  is  between  diet  and  brains;  and  at 

this  moment  I  am  not  entirely  decided  that  the  country  needs 
schools  of  grammar  more  than  it  needs  schools  of  cookery. 
Dressing  is  better  done  than  feeding,  some  would  urge  because 
of  the  universal  qnieknesfl  of  the  feminine  eye  for  the  new 
fabric  and  the  new  garment,  and  avidity  for  the  omnipresent 
Delineator  pattern.  As  for  the  lodging,  the  houee  is  often 
mean  and  uncomfortable  enough,  not  for  lack  of  material, 
but  solely  for  the  lack  of  the  proper  standard  of  comfort 
But  these  are  not  the  features  which  mark  the  deepest  poverty 
of  country  life.  The  farmer  touches  bottom  when  In-  oomee 
to  the  last  item  in  Ruskin's  listing  of  the  "sure  good."  How 
far  do  "the  arts  or  sciences  or  any  other  subject  of  thought" 
minister  to  his  pleasure  ?  Has  the  average  farmer  heard 
whether  there  be  arts  or  sciences  ?  or  having  heard,  does  he 
care  ?  I  am  afraid  that  his  fair  landscape  of  forest  and  field 
and  stream  often  encompasses  a  sordid  and  lonely  life,  and 
what  we  call  his  contentment  is  only  a  stolid  acquiescence  in 
the  hard  pressure  and  the  monotony  of  unbroken  toil.  The 
most  pathetic  figure  in  this  isolated  and  narrow  life  is  the 
farmer's  wife. 

The  inventory  of  the  lost  estate  must  include  also  what  has 
been  called  the  simple  life.  Of  course,  the  great  loser  here 
is  the  city ;  but  so  dominant  has  the  city  come  to  be  that  it  is 
invading  the  independence  of  the  country  to  a  degree,  and 
imposing  there  its  ideals  and  standards.  Indeed,  it  has  long 
been  doing  so.  In  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury Cowper  noted  the  same  thing.     He  says, 

"The  town  has  tinged  the  country;  and  the  stain 
Appears  a  spot  upon  a  vestal's  rohe, 
The  worse  for  what  it  soils." 

One  would  think  that  nowadays  the  simple  life,  if  not 
wholly  lost,  must  be  quite  effectively  buried  in  the  depths  of 
the  wild  wood,  at  the  bottom  of  remote  meadows,  or  in  inacces- 
sible coves  of  the  mountains.  Indeed,  I  am  told  that  even  in 
some  of  these  retreats  it  is,  with  a  keen  eye  to  business,  as- 
sumed every  season  to  draw  thither  metropolitan  idlers  whose 
paths  drop  fatness,  and  who,  in  their  desperate  struggle  to  be 
amused,  sometimes  embrace  the  fad  of  the  antique  and  culti- 
vate it  now  in  china  and  furniture,  now  in  the  costumes  and 


42         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

customs  of  human  beings.  This  very  affectation  of  the  antique 
is  itself  a  demonstration  of  how  thoroughly  lost  the  simple 
life  is  to  some  sections  of  Western  civilization.  They  collect 
its  symbols  with  a  curious  avidity  just  as  antiquarians  collect 
old  Eoman  coins  or  the  clay  tablets  of  Assyria.  It  would  be 
amusing,  if  it  were  not  so  pitiful. 

Of  course,  no  one  could  be  so  simple  as  to  wish  for  the  re- 
versal of  the  progress  which  modern  days  have  made  toward 
the  elaboration,  the  refining,  and  the  beautifying  of  life. 
After  all  subtractions  have  been  made,  Charles  Lamb  in  the 
midst  of  his  ledgers  by  the  Thames  does  retain  some  advan- 
tages over  the  rude  Celt  who  was  there  some  centuries  before 
him.  No ;  the  simple  life  does  not  involve  the  return  to  bar- 
barism; nor  does  it  require  asceticism  or  poverty.  Its  prin- 
ciples are  to-day  observed  in  families  of  every  financial  rating 
and  social  rank.  Neither  is  it  incompatible  with  the  highest 
industrial  development.  For  the  simple  life  does  not  consist 
in  circumstances  whether  of  luxury  or  want,  but  rather  in  a 
certain  relation  to  circumstances.  Simplicity  is  an  inward 
attitude,  "a  state  of  mind,"  as  Charles  Wagner,  the  apostle  of 
the  new  France,  has  so  admirably  set  forth.  "It  dwells  in 
the  main  intention  of  our  lives.  A  man  is  simple  when  his 
chief  care  is  the  wish  to  be  what  he  ought  to  be,  that  is,  hon- 
estly and  naturally  human." 

But  as  one  looks  abroad  on  civilized  life  in  our  time  one 
cannot  avoid  the  impression  that  we  are  in  peril  of  making  a 
capital  error ;  in  fact,  the  controlling  section  of  our  urban  life 
has  already  made  it — the  error,  I  mean,  of  putting  exterior 
conditions  upon  the  throne  which  belongs  to  life  itself.  We 
are  so  dazzled  by  the  brilliancy  of  our  civilization  that  we 
forget  to  inquire  after  the  man  at  the  center  of  it,  who  alone 
gives  it  worth.  We  confuse  the  incidental  and  the  essential. 
Madam  has  a  fine  equipage ;  therefore  Madam  is  a  fine  wo- 
man. Madam  has  no  equipage ;  Madam  is  no  woman  at  all. 
So  concerned  are  Ave  about  our  business,  that  we  have  lost  our- 
selves. The  Chinese  proverb  applies :  "Here's  my  umbrella, 
here's  my  bundle,  but  where  am  I  ?" 

"The  world  is  too  much  with  us;  late  and  soon, 
Getting  and  spending  we  lay  waste  our  powers; 
Little  we  see  in  Nature  that  is  ours; 
We  have  given  our  hearts  away,  a  sordid  boon! 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.  43 

Wants  multiply  with  astonishing  rapidity  and  grow  to  be 
as  imperious  as  needs,  and  whip  us  to  our  topmost  speed. 
And  yet  this  haste  and  bustle  does  not  advance  us  on  our  way ; 
it  is  dissipated  among  manifold  appurtenances  of  life. 
Thoreau  once  said  that  he  looked  upon  England  as  an  old  gen- 
tleman travelling  with  a  great  deal  of  baggage  which  had 
accumulated  from  long  housekeeping  and  which  he  had  not 
the  courage  to  burn. 

The  fatal  taint  of  artificiality  is  often  observable  in  the 
courtesies  and  refinements  of  urban  social  life.  Individuality 
is  suppressed  and  manners  are  constrained  in  the  endeavor 
to  conform  to  the  recognized  standard.  Frankness  and  sim- 
plicity of  speech  are  the  marks  of  the  boor.  We  are  "charm- 
ed" with  the  music  which  has  tortured  every  nerve.  We  have 
been  "longing  for  weeks"  for  the  visit  which  we  hoped  would 
never  be  made.  We  are  "so  pleased"  to  meet  the  gentleman 
from  whom  we  turn  in  disgust.  We  are  "delighted"  to  have 
been  bored  at  receptions  and  teas.  From  our  hysterical  speech 
the  old-time  positive  and  comparative  degrees  in  plain  home- 
spun are  rigidly  excluded ;  only  the  superlative  appears  in 
good  society.  No  reserve  of  a  moment,  no  grateful  silence, 
no  calm  candor  of  emotion ;  but  only  raptures  and  ecstasies. 
O  the  weakness !     O  the  pity ! 

One  of  the  sanest  of  the  ancient  philosophers  compares  a 
man  who  has  severed  himself  from  union  with  nature  to  a 
hand  or  foot  cut  off  and  removed  from  the  body ;  but,  he  goes 
on  to  say,  though  God  set  man  above  the  necessity  of  breaking 
off  from  nature,  he  shows  him  a  special  bounty  in  giving  him 
the  power  to  rejoin  the  body  and  recover  the  advantage  of 
being  the  same  member  he  was  at  first.  I  am  glad  to  turn  to 
the  contemplation  of  such  a  possibility.  Even  where  the 
separation  has  been  most  radical  there  are  signs  of  reaction 
and  return,  and  I  esteem  it  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  this 
reactionary  tendency  abroad  distinctly  established  itself  before 
our  own  loved  State  was  very  far  wandered  into  the  alien 
realm  of  extravagance  and  artificiality.  Her  population  is 
markedly  homogeneous  and  ninety-two  per  cent  rural,  and  her 
comparative  remoteness  from  the  main  current  of  modern 
progress,  which  wras  once  her  reproach  among  her  sisters,  must 
be  credited  with  the  compensation  of  having  preserved  her 
from  much  of  the  physical  and  moral  deterioration  wThich  is 


44        Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

the  penalty  of  acuter  phases  of  social  development  in  other 
communities.  Allow  me  to  speak  of  some  symptoms  of  the 
reaction  referred  to  and  to  point  out  certain  facts  likely  to 
quicken  it.  May  we  not  hope  that  they  prophesy  the  good  day 
when  prodigal  society,  too  far  wandered  from  the  bosom  of 
nature,  will  be  — 

III.      at  home  again. 

It  is  related  of  Von  Baer,  the  founder  of  the  science  of 
embryology,  that,  though  reared  in  the  country  and  ardent  in 
his  devotion  to  external  nature,  he  had  long  shut  himself 
closely  in  the  city,  so  absorbed  was  he  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
infant  science.  One  day  he  went  outside  and  discovered  that 
the  wheat  had  been  sown  and  was  ready  for  reaping,  and  he 
had  not  so  much  as  laid  eyes  on  the  fields.  He  fell  on  the 
ground  in  the  waving  grain  and  wept  at  his  loss,  which  in 
his  scientific  absorption  came  near  to  being  a  permanent  loss. 
He  resolved  to  save  himself  even  at  some  cost  to  his  science, 
and  took  a  government  post  which  brought  him  again  to  the 
open  field  and  sky.  This  insatiable  earth-hunger  is  not  con- 
fined to  a  few  poetic  and  susceptible  souls.  It  draws  out  of 
the  cities  annually  a  great  migration  of  people  to  the  country, 
to  the  seaside,  and  to  the  mountains,  where  once  more  they 
become  simple  and  free.  And,  as  social  and  industrial  com- 
plications multiply,  the  number  who  seek  this  annual  refresh- 
ment increases.  Does  the  human  nature,  in  which  the  lower 
world  elements  are  gathered  up  into  a  higher  unity,  yearn 
blindly  for  its  kindred  ?  does  it  sigh  for  the  bosom  where  its 
infancy  lay  ?  Whatever  explanation,  scientific  or  romantic, 
you  prefer,  there  is  no  denying  the  strength  of  this  old  at- 
traction of  country  life. 

But  to-day  new  attractions  are  re-inforcing  the  old.  Coun- 
try life  is  enriching  as  never  before.  I  am  not  now  saying 
that  farmers  are  growing  richer.  I  hope  they  are,  though 
appearances  sometimes  point  the  other  way.  You  know, 
agriculture  has  been  defined  as  making  money  in  the  city  to 
spend  in  the  country,  and  farming  as  making  money  in  the 
country  to  spend  in  the  city.  You  observe,  neither  the  agri- 
culturist nor  the  farmer  keeps  his  money.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
we  are  now  concerned  with  the  enrichment  of  the  farmer's 
life,  not  the  filling  of  the  farmer's  purse. 


The  Enrichment  of  Country  Life.  45 

1.  Comfort.  It  is  to  be  noted,  in  the  first  place,  that  coun- 
try life  is  ;it  hist  beginning  to  share  in  the  beneficent  revolu- 
tion which  science  has  lately  wroughl  in  the  means  ami  modes 
of  life.  The  standard  of  comfortable  living  is  spread  into  the 
country,  and,  what  is  important,  it  is  found  to  be  practically 
applicable  there.  We  have  discovered,  for  example,  that  a  given 
lot  of  materials  for  a  house  can  be  put  together  in  a  comfort- 
able and  convenient  dwelling  at  no  additional  cost  for  the 
comfort  and  convenience.  We  have  a  series  of  practical 
books  on  Home  Building  and  Furnishing,  How  to  Plan  Home 
Grounds,  How  to  Make  a  Flower  Garden,  etc.  We  are  mak- 
ing another  discovery — making  it  in  spots,  but  the  spots  will 
multiply  and  meet — the  discovery,  namely,  that  we  are  too 
poor  to  endure  the  expense  of  ungraded  roads  with  mud  bot- 
toms, or  no  bottoms.  And  for  the  brightening  of  country  life 
the  good  road  will 

Lie  like  a  shaft  of  light  across  the  land. 
Through  all  the  circle  of  the  golden  year. 

And  the  work  of  the  farm  is  already  greatly  lightened  by 
the  introduction  of  machinery  into  well-nigh  all  its  depart- 
ments, as  well  as  by  the  control  of  the  fertility  of  any  soil  by 
scientific  treatment.  In  the  past  fifty  years  the  number  of 
farm  workers  has  only  doubled,  but  the  value  of  their  work 
has  been  increased  twenty-fold.  Are  we  warranted  in  expect- 
ing the  time  when  the  experience  of  Thoreau  will  be  realized 
by  the  average  country  dweller  ?  He  says,  you  may  recall, 
that  for  more  than  five  years  he  maintained  himself  solely 
by  the  labor  of  his  hands,  and  found  that  he  could  meet  the 
expenses  of  living  by  working  about  six  weeks  a  year,  which 
left  him  the  whole  of  his  winters  and  most  of  his  summers 
free  and  clear  for  study. 

2.  Variety  of  interests.  The  monotony  of  country  life  is 
relieved  now  by  a  greatly  increased  variety  of  interests. 
Transportation  opens  markets  and  makes  profitable  many 
more  crops  than  formerly.  Experimentation  on  the  physical 
and  chemical  character  of  soils,  on  the  plants  and  animals 
upon  the  farm,  offers  an  unending  means  of  amusement.  But 
more  effective  than  experiments  and  varied  products  for  im- 
parting interest  and  zest  to  country  life  is  the  new  sympathy 
with  the  manifold  phases  of  nature  which  is  one  of  the  pic- 


46         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

turesque  features  of  our  period.  This  feeling  and  attitude 
occurs,  indeed,  in  individual  cases  from  early  times  in  liter- 
ary history,  as  in  Horace,  and  Lucretius,  and  Theocritus,  and 
in  some  of  the  early  English  poets ;  but  in  our  day  it  is  get- 
ting to  be  almost  universal,  as  is  shown  by  the  popularity  and 
volume  of  outdoor  literature  with  its  invitation, 

Come  forth  into  the  light  of  things, 
Let  Nature  be  your  teacher. 

This  later  phase  of  it  may  be  traced  back  to  the  eighteenth 
century  to  such  sympathetic  observers  as  Gilbert  White  and 
De  Saussure  on  the  scientific  side  and  on  the  poetic  side 
to  Cowper  and  Wordsworth.  In  the  latter  half  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  it  grew  rapidly  under  the  stimulus  of  the  gen- 
eral scientific  movement  and  the  influence  of  men  like  Ernst 
Krause  in  Germany,  Jefferies  and  Ruskin  in  England,  and  on 
this  side  "Old  Silver-Top"  as  John  Burroughs  has  been 
affectionately  called,  and  his  younger  followers  as  Roberts, 
Long,  and  Thompson- Seton.  What  an  endowment  of  interest 
and  of  beauty  have  we  here  for  country  life. 

3.  Fellowship.  Let  me  speak  lastly  of  the  new  fellow- 
ships of  country  life.  In  the  future  its  isolation  will  be  only 
so  deep  as  individual  taste  may  determine.  For  it  has  now 
opened  communication  with  all  other  sections  of  human  activ- 
ity. The  telephone  and  the  rural  free  delivery  supply  the 
opportunity  of  personal  fellowship  well-nigh  as  close  as  that 
of  the  city,  with  the  distinct  advantage  that  it  may  be  con- 
trolled according  to  one's  preference.  By  the  same  means 
the  edge  is  taken  off  the  fear  of  sudden  danger  in  the  coun- 
try's solitude.  Moreover,  the  rural  school  is  laying  the  foun- 
dations for  an  intellectual  fellowship  with  all  the  world  and 
all  the  ages.  And  the  free  rural  library,  which  this  Associa- 
tion had  the  honor  to  inaugurate  in  North  Carolina,  com- 
pletes fittingly  the  apparatus  of  a  simple,  free,  intelligent, 
strong,  happy,  country  life. 

But  I  beg  to  point  out  the  danger  that  the  rural  school,  in- 
stead of  serving  to  enrich  and  adorn  country  life,  may  be  the 
most  efficient  agent  in  perpetuating  its  poverty.  Under  the 
operation  of  the  French  Education  Bill  of  1833,  revised  in 
1871,  there  was  a  fearful  exodus  from  the  farms  and  villages 
to  the  towns  and  to  Paris.     I  have  little  doubt  that  many  of 


The  Enrichment  op  Country  Lips.  47 

you  can  duplicate  the  observation  of  Prof.  Bailey  in  a  county 
in  New  York.  Be  asked  the  forty-five  children  of  a  rural 
school  how  many  of  them  lived  on  farms.  All  hands  went  up 
but  one.  When  he  asked  how  many  wished  to  live  on  the 
farm,  no  hand  was  raised  hut  the  one  which  was  down  before. 
Clearly  that  school  had  been  educating  the  children  away 
from  the  farm,  killing  with  bookish  and  city  methods  their 
native  sympathy  with  the  country  and  its  pursuits.  In  this 
matter  indifference  or  compromise  will  lead  to  disaster.  We 
need  to  insist  that  the  rural  school  shall  apply  the  funda- 
mental principle  of  all  education,  and  put  the  rural  child  into 
direct  sympathy  with  his  rural  environment  and  into  intelli- 
gent relation  with  the  life  which  he  is  going  to  lead.  The 
text-book  made  by  the  city  man  for  the  only  child  he  knows, 
namely,  the  city  child,  will  have  to  be  rigidly  excluded.  The 
teacher  must  be  less  urban  and  literary  in  his  ideals  and 
methods,  and  more  at  home  amid  natural  objects. 

And  now,  as  I  conclude,  let  me  say  that  the  old  love  of 
nature,  which  will  have  its  way  with  us  at  times,  and  the  new 
enrichment  of  country  life  have  already  produced  a  distinct 
movement,  of  which  one  sees  signs  in  Europe  as  well  as  in 
America.  It  means  intensely  and  means  good.  For  one 
thing,  the  city  is  trying  to  countrify  itself.  Witness  the  in- 
troduction and  care  of  trees — Paris  expends  $60,000  a  year 
on  its  trees — the  extension  of  the  park  area,  the  multiplica- 
tion of  play  grounds,  the  rapid  development  of  the  Detroit  'po- 
tato patch"  experiment  in  other  cities,  and  the  "Garden  City 
Movement"  of  England,  which  proposes  that  every  city  which 
it  will  build  shall  have  attached  to  it  in  perpetuity  and  in- 
violable an  agricultural  area  of  six  thousand  acres.  Tt  really 
looks  as  if,  in  the  city  of  the  future,  agriculture  will  join 
hands  with  trade  and  manufactures  to  enhance  its  prosperity 
and  to  preserve  its  physical  and  moral  health.  But  this  is 
not  all.  The  city  in  a  way  is  moving  into  the  country.  Al- 
ready men  begin  to  speak  of  the  problem  created  by  the 
growth  of  the  system  of  suburban  residence,  which  depopu- 
lates the  cities  of  the  better  middle  class  and  leaves  the  tene- 
ment districts  in  undiluted  sordidness.  The  development  of 
rapid  transit  makes  it  possible  for  traders  and  factory  op- 
eratives whose  work  is  in  the  city  to  live  in  the  country.  And 
small-salaried  men  sometimes  club  together  and  maintain  a 


48         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

suburban  farm  for  what  their  board  in  the  city  would  cost. 
Besides,  the  young  men  of  good  position  and  opportunities 
who  heretofore  have  sought  careers  in  the  cities  are  turning 
in  increasing  numbers  to  the  land. 

All  this  means  a  return  to  nature,  to  a  simpler,  saner,  truer, 
life.  It  means  the  emergence  of  agriculture  into  a  new  dig- 
nity and  respectability.  It  means  the  renascence  of  South- 
ern influence  in  national  affairs.  If  I  do  not  err,  it  means 
for  us  in  this  agricultural  region  the  recovery  of  at  least  some 
of  the  charm  of  the  social  life  that  crowned  the  prosperity  of 
other  days.  It  means  the  birth  of  a  new  and  richer  litera- 
ture to  record  faithfully  and  in  tenderness  our  past  and  cele- 
brate the  larger  life  of  the  new  day. 


THE    RALEIGH   CALEMDAR. 


A  Chronological  Compendium  of  thk  Principal  Events 
in  thk  Life  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 


Read  by  W.  J.  PEELE,  op  Raleigh,  at  the  Fourth  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Literary  and  Historical  Association,  November  12,  1903. 


1552 — Walter  Raleigh  was  born  in  the  county  of  Devon, 
South  England,  at  an  old  country  house  or  manor, 
called  "Hayes."  lie  was  the  son  of  Walter  Raleigh 
of  Fardel  and  Katherine  Gilbert,  his  wife.  She  was 
also,  by  her  first  husband  the  mother  of  the  celebrated 
Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  with  whom  Raleigh  was  asso- 
ciated in  fitting  out  his  earlier  American  expeditions. 

1566 — Entered  College  at  Oxford,  England,  where  he  re- 
mained for  three  years,  distinguished  especially  in 
oratory  and  philosophy. 

1569 — Went  to  France  as  a  volunteer,  fighting  six  years  in 
that  country  for  the  liberties  of  the  Huguenots  under 
the  famous  Admiral  Coligny,  the  first  citizen  of 
France  and  the  first  victim  of  the  massacre  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Day. 

1575 — Returned  to  England.  Studied  and  practiced  naviga- 
tion and  ship-building  for  several  years,  in  which  arts 
he  became  a  master;  and  in  the  meantime  he  made 
himself  familiar  with  the  West  Indies  and  with  the 
American  coasts  and  waters. 

1578 — Accompanied  (according  to  some  authorities)  his  half 
brother,  Sir  Hmnphrey  Gilbert,  in  an  expedition  to 
the  St.  Lawrence,  in  North  America. 

15S0 — Was  commissioned  captain  of  an  hundred  foot  soldiers 
to  fight  the  Irish  rebels  and  their  Spanish  and  Italian 
allies.  His  pay  was  only  eighty  cents  a  day — but  in 
two  years  he  was  the  most  famous  soldier  in  Ireland 
and  attracted,  by  his  valor  and  success,  the  notice  of 
Queen  Elizabeth. 
4 


50         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

1581 — Was  introduced  at  the  Queen's  court  where  he  con- 
tinued to  grow  in  favor  until  he  became  her  most  trust- 
ed adviser  in  military  and  naval  affairs  and  the  most 
active  organizer  of  her  forces  against  the  Spanish. 

1583 — Fitted  out,  with  the  aid  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert, 
his  half  brother,  an  expedition  to  New  Foundland. 
The  Queen  and  the  public  service  requiring  his  pres- 
ence in  England,  Gilbert  was  placed  in  command, 
and,  after  remaining  on  the  desolate  shores  of  that 
Island  for  thirty  days,  the  expedition  sailed  for  Eng- 
land. Jt  lost  on  its  return  voyage  its  brave  command- 
er in  a  great  storm ;  but  his  last  words,  uttered  from 
his  sinking  ship,  are  the  best  seaman's  motto  that  has 
come  down  to  us :  "Be  of  good  cheer,  friends,  we  are 
as  near  heaven  by  sea  as  by  land." 

1584 — March  25.  Obtained  charter  from  Queen  Elizabeth 
under  which  the  several  settlements  on  Roanoke  Is- 
land were  made — being  the  first  settlements  of  the 
English  race  in  America,  the  beginning  of  the  Amer- 
ican nation,  and  the  seeds  of  Jamestown  and  Ply- 
mouth. 

The  charter  was  the  beginning  of  English  law  in 
America.  Emigrants  to  the  lands  that  should  be  dis- 
covered and  possessed  under  its  authority  were,  by  its 
provisions,  guaranteed  the  rights  and  liberties  they 
enjoyed  in  England. 

1584 — April  27.  Dispatched  an  expedition  of  two  ships  un- 
der the  command  of  Amidas  and  Barlowe  with  au- 
thority to  explore  and  take  possession  of  such  lands, 
(not  under  the  dominion  of  any  Christian  Prince)  as 
they  should  discover. 

1584 — July  4.*  The  expedition  arrived  off  the  coast  of 
what  is  now  known  as  North  Carolina  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles  south  of  an  inlet  not  far  from 
Roanoke  Island. 
July  7.  This  inlet  was  entered  and  a  landing  effected 
on  a  part  of  the  "Banks."  The  English  took  formal 
possession  in  the  name  of  Elizabeth,  the  Queen,  and 


*  Dates  from  July  4,  1584.  to  December,  inclusive,  are  approximate, 
having  been  obtained  by  estimation. 


The  Raleigh  Calendar.  51 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  the  governor  of  the  newly  dis- 
covered land ;  and  the  Queen  called  it  "Virginia," 
in  honor  of  herself  the  virgin  queen  of  England. 
The  country  embraced  under  this  name  extended 
from  the  34th  to  the  45th  degree  North  latitude — 
that  is  from  the  region  of  Cape  Fear  to  that  where 
Maine  touches  Canada  on  the  Atlantic. 

July  10.  They  were  first  visited  by  the  Indians  who 
caught  for  them  fish,  which  are  still  abundant  in  those 
waters. 

July  11.  They  made  friends  with  Granganimeo,  the 
brother  of  Wingina,  the  king  of  that  coimtry ;  the  near- 
est mainland  of  which  the  Indians  called  Dassa- 
monque-peak. 

July  16.  They  visited  Roanoke  Island,  the  cradle  of 
American  civilization,  and  the  birth  place  of  Virginia 
Dare  the  first  child  of  English  parents  born  in  Amer- 
ica— nature's  best  protected  spot  on  the  American 
coast  in  which  to  have  begun  the  hitherto  untried  ex- 
periment of  English  colonization ;  for  the  Chesapeake 
had  been  explored  and  sketched  by  the  Spaniards,  but 
the  Sound  section  of  North  Carolina,  behind  its  frown- 
ing barriers  of  sand,  was  terra  incognita. 

August  They  sailed  for  England  taking  with  them 
the  two  Indians,  Manteo,  the  friend,  and  Wanchese, 
the  enemy,  of  the  white  race. 

September  15.  The  expedition  returned  to  England. 
Barlowe  published  an  account  of  it  which  Raleigh 
used,  with  the  other  accounts  brought  back,  to  thrill 
the  English  people  with  the  fever  of  emigrating  to 
America — a  fever  which  has  never  fallen  from  that 
day  to  this. 

December.  Was  knighted  "Sir  Walter  Raleigh"  by 
Queen  Elizabeth  in  honor  of  his  exploits  and  discov- 
eries. 
1585 — April  9.  Raleigh's  second  expedition  set  out  from 
Plymouth  for  the  shores  of  "Virginia"  (North  Caro- 
lina) under  the  command  of  his  cousin,  the  celebrated 
Sir  Richard  Grenville.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  colonists  and  five  little  ships,  the  largest 
being  of  one   hundred   and   forty  tons  burden,   the 


52         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

smallest,  fifty.  Among  the  other  famous  men  in  this 
expedition  was  Thomas  Cavendish,  who  afterwards 
circumnavigated  the  globe,  Hariot,  the  mathematician 
and  historian,  and  Ralph  Lane,  the  explorer  of  East- 
ern North  Carolina,  and  the  first  governor  of  an  Eng- 
lish Colony  in  America. 

June  20.  The  vessels  came  in  sight  of  "Florida,"  the 
name  by  which  some  explorers,  called  so  much  of  the 
continent  as  is  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the 
South  Atlantic  States,  and  under  which  the  Span- 
ish claimed  the  land  from  Key  West  to  Nova  Scotia. 

June  23.  Sailing  up  the  coast  to  what  is  now  North 
Carolina  they  barely  escaped  shipwreck  on  a  "breach 
called  the  Cap  of  Feare."     Probably  cape  Look-out. 

June  24.  They  came  to  anchor  in  a  harbor  where  they 
"caught  in  one  tide  so  much  fish  as  would  have  yield- 
ed twenty  pounds  in  London." 

June  26.  They  came  to  anchor  at  Wokoken,  where  one 
of  the  ships  was  wrecked  in  the  attempt  to  run 
her  over  the  bar  of  the  inlet — the  first  recorded  ship- 
wreck in  the  region  of  Hatteras. 

Sept.  3.  Was  written  the  first  letter  by  an  English- 
man in  America ;  it  was  from  the  "New  Fort  in  Vir- 
ginia" (Fort  Raleigh  on  Roanoke  Island)  and  writ- 
ten by  Ralph  Lane  to  Richard  Hackluyt,  of  London. 
Lane's  colony  remained  in  "Virginia"  (North  Caro- 
lina) one  year  wanting  five  days,  but  lost  only  four  of 
its  number,  and  these  died  from  natural  causes. 
15  85-6 — During  his  occupation  Lane  explored  the  Albemarle 
and  Pamlico  Sounds  and  their  principal  tributaries. 
He  ascended  the  Roanoke  River,  called  by  the  In- 
dians, Monatoc,  about  as  far  as  Weldon.  He  explored 
the  Chowan,  called  by  the  Indians  Chowanoke,  as  far 
as  Wyanoke  Ferry,  at  the  junction  of  the  Black  Water 
and  Nottoway  Rivers.  He  went  North  as  far  as  the 
Elizabeth  River  and  reported  to  Raleigh  its  commod- 
ious harbors  and  the  deep  waters  of  the  Chesapeake. 
Hariot  wrote  the  best  account  of  these  expeditions 
and  a  description  of  the  principal  food  plants  and  ani- 
mals which  were  found;  and  DeBry,  in  1588  and  in 
1590,  published  a  book  illustrated  with  maps,   pic- 


The  Raleigh  Calendar.  53 

tures  and  drawings  of  the  sound  section  of  North 
Carolina,  its  inhabitants  and  its  food  plants  and  ani- 
mals. The  originals  of  these  illustrations  were  made 
by  John  White,  a  painter,  whom  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
with  the  special  approval  of  the  Queen,  and  at  his 
own  cost,  sent  to  our  shores  for  this  purpose.  The 
book  is  the  joint  product  of  White,  Hariot  and  DeBry, 
and  is  the  most  definite  and  valuable  early  English 
publication  that  was  ever  published  of  any  part  of 
America.  With  Barlowe's  and  Lane's  narratives, 
it  is  the  main  source  of  the  history  of  the  earliest 
efforts  to  colonize  America  by  the  English. 

1586 — June  19.  Lane  and  his  colony  sailed  for  England 
in  the  fleet  of  Sir  Francis  Drake.  They  had  been 
doing  well  and  were  reasonably  contented,  but  the 
sight  of  English  ships  and  sailors  made  them  home- 
sick and  a  terrible  storm,  such  as  still  rage  around  Hat- 
teras,  completed  their  demoralization.  They  landed 
in  England,  and  Raleigh  introduced  from  our  shores 
the  use  of  tobacco  in  England  and  the  culture  of  pota- 
toes in  Ireland.  Shortly  after  the  departure  of  the 
colonists,  a  ship  loaded  with  provisions  for  them  ar- 
rived at  Wokoken,  but  soon  sailed  away  for  England. 
A  fortnight  later  Sir  Richard  Grenville  arrived  and, 
finding  none  of  Lane's  colony,  he  left  fifteen  men  on 
Roanoke  Island  to  hold  possession  of  the  country  until 
they  could  be  relieved  by  a  stronger  force.  No  white 
man  ever  beheld  their  faces  again.  The  destruction 
of  these  men  first  proved  to  the  Indians  that  the  Eng- 
lish were  not  invulnerable  and  begun  the  long  battle 
between  the  two  races. 

1587 — May  8.  Raleigh's  Fourth  expedition  sailed  from  Ply- 
mouth for  the  shores  of  North  Carolina.  It  consisted 
of  three  vessels  with  their  crews  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  colonists,  of  whom  91  men,  17  women  and  9  chil- 
dren remained.  The  emigrants  were  under  the  com- 
mand of  their  governor,  John  White  ;  they  were  fated  to 
become  what  is  known  in  history  as  the  "Lost  Colony." 
July  16.  They  landed  on  that  part  of  the  "Banks"  then 
known  as  the  Island  of  Croatan  lying  to  the  South 
of  Cape  Hatteras. 


54         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

July  22.  They  arrived  at  Hattorask  Inlet  and  passed 
over  to  Roanoke  Island  where  they  learned  the  fate  of 
the  fifteen  men  left  there  by  Grenville. 

August  13.  Manteo  was  christened  "Lord  of  Roanoke 
and  Dasamonque-peak"  by  command  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh. 

August  18.  Was  born  Virginia  Dare  the  first  child  of 
the  English  speaking  race  born  in  America. 

August  — .     Was  born Harvie,  the  first  American 

boy  of  that  race. 

August  27.  Governor  John  White  sailed  for  England 
leaving  his  little  colony  to  its  unknown  fate  in  the 
wilds  of  America.  For  three  centuries  the  ingenuity 
of  poets  and  historians  has  been  exercised  to  discover 
its  history,  but  the  woods  have  not  given  up  their  se- 
cret. Perhaps  the  Red  men  of  Croatan  Island  mi- 
grated inland  to  what  is  now  Robeson  County  and 
carried  the  "Lost  Colony"  with  them.  There  still 
resides  in  that  region  a  tribe  of  Indians  of  mixed 
blood  calling  themselves  by  the  mystic  name  of  Croa- 
tan and  there  still  exists  among  them  a  tradition  that 
they  came  from  a  region  called  Roanoke. 
1588 — Early  in  the  year,  Raleigh  fitted  out  an  expedition  to 
relieve  White's  colony  and  placed  it  under  the  com- 
mand of  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  but,  on  account  of  the 
war  with  Spain,  it  was  not  permitted  to  sail. 

April  22.  Sent  a  second  relief  expedition. consisting  of 
two  little  ships  loaded  with  provisions,  but  they  were 
captured  and  stripped  by  pirates. 

England  being  now  menaced  by  the  great  invasion 
from  Spain,  Raleigh  assigned  his  principal  interests 
in  "Virginia"  to  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  Richard  Hack- 
luyt  and  others,  who  afterwards  became,  under  his  in- 
spiration, the  chief  promoters  of  the  settlement  at 
Jamestown  in  what  is  now  the  State  of  Virginia. 

Aug.  The  Spanish  Armada  was,  under  Raleigh's  advice, 
attacked  at  sea  and  destroyed  before  it  could  effect 
the  invasion  of  England.  He  was  the  real  author  of 
this  victory  which  was  the  turning  point  of  England's 
greatness  and  Spain's  decline.  It  was  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Armada  that  he  reached  the  highest  point 


The  Raleigh  Calendar.  55 

of  his  fortune  and  favor  with  the  Queen.  He  was  as 
great  and  brave  as  ever  in  the  sea  fight  in  the  harbor 
of  Cadiz,  and,  in  his  expedition  up  the  Oronoko  River 
was  as  zealous  as  ever  for  the  extension  of  the  Queen's 
empire  in  America,  but  he  did  not  have  the  same  in- 
fluence in  the  government  nor  receive  the  same  recog- 
nition for  his  public  services. 

1589 — Co-labored  with  his  friend  the  poet  Spencer  and  was 
the  subject  and  inspiration  of  the  best  English  poetry 
since  Chaucer.  He  was  Spencer's  patron,  introduced 
him  to  the  Queen  and  procured  him  the  leisure  to  write 
and  the  means  to  publish  the  poems  which  made  their 
author  famous.  It  was  with  Spencer  that  Raleigh  for 
the  next  two  years  cultivated  his  natural  fondness  for 
literature  which  in  the  after  years  resulted  in  his 
"History  of  the  World"  and  other  literary  works. 

1590 — March  20.  The  fifth  expedition  being  the  second  un- 
der John  White,  sailed  from  Plymouth  for  Roanoke 
Island. 
August  15.  The  ships  came  to  anchor  at  "Hattorask 
Inlet"  which  was  then  reckoned  to  be  36  degrees  and 
20  minutes  North  latitude,  and  this  reckoning  locates 
this  inlet  North  of  Roanoke  Island. 
August  17.  White  went  with  a  party  of  men  to  Fort 
Raleigh,  but  found  it  dismantled  and  deserted.  The 
colony  had  vanished ;  only  the  name  "Croatoan"  carved 
on  a  tree  could  give  a  clue  to  its  new  abode;  and  he, 
who  "joyed"  in  this  "certain  token  of  their  being  safe" 
left  the  country  without  making  an  honest  search  for 
their  recovery.  He  who  had  before  deserted  his 
colony,  could  now  be  satisfied  with  only  a  "token"  of 
their  safety. 
August  18.  (The  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Virginia 
Dare.)  The  expedition  sailed  away  and  the  "Lost 
Colony"  was  "lost"  in  the  deep  solitudes  of  North 
Carolina's  forests — affording  the  first  of  the  many 
lost  chapters  of  our  history. 

1591— November.  Raleigh  wrote  an  account  of  the  famous 
B6fl  fight  between  his  ship  the  "Revenge"  under  the 
command  of  his  cousin,  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  and  a 
Spanish  fleet  of  fifteen  vessels.     This  is  one  of  his 


56         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

best  pieces  of  prose  literature,  and  the  subject  of  it, 
England's  bravest  sea-fight — the  Thermopylae  of 
naval  warfare. 
1592 — Married  Elizabeth  Throckmorten  the  Queen's  maid  of 
honor  and  forfeited  the  favor  of  the  Queen  who  was 
herself  reputed  to  be  in  love  with  him.  He  was  de- 
barred from  her  Court  for  five  years,  but  he  did  not 
cease  to  serve  his  country. 
1592 — July  28.  Was  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  of  London 
on  account  of  the  anger  or  jealousy  of  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. During  his  imprisonment  an  expedition  he  had 
fitted  out  captured  the  Spanish  plate-ship  the  Madre 
de  Dios  with  its  cargo  valued  at  two  and  a  half  mil- 
lions. 

Sept.  21.  Was  released  from  prison  as  the  only  man  in 
England  who  could  save  the  treasure  of  the  great  prize- 
ship  from  the  plunder  of  his  own  countrymen.  The 
Queen,  as  sovereign,  took  the  lion's  share  of  what  he 
recovered. 
1594 — Sent  a  ship  to  get  information  concerning  Guiana,  in 
South  America,  which  the  Spanish  had  then  lately  an- 
nexed to  their  dominions  and  named  the  "New  El 
Dorado." 
1595 — Feb'y  6.  Sailed  with  an  expedition  to  explore  and 
take  possession  of  Guiana. 

March  22.  Anchored  off  the  Island  of  Trinidad  and 
shortly  took  possession  of  it  as  a  base  of  operations 
from  which  to  explore  the  Continent.  This  Island 
still  belongs  to  Great  Britain. 

April.  Began  his  famous  voyage  up  the  Oronoko  River 
which  he  explored  for  four  hundred  miles  from  its 
mouth. 

His  expedition  remained  in  Guiana,  Trinidad,  and 
the  American  waters  for  several  months.  He  was  re- 
ported sailing  along  the  coast  of  Cuba  in  the  month  of 
July,  and  he  landed  in  England  sometime  in  October. 
He  told  the  Spanish  Governor  of  Trinidad  that  he  was 
on  his  way  to  his  settlement  in  "Virginia"  but  there 
is  no  record  that  he  touched  our  coast. 

December.     Published  an  account  of  his  explorations 


The  Raleigh  Calendar.  57 

which  were  speedily  translated  into  Latin  and  German 
and  circulated  over  Europe. 

1596 — Sent  another  expedition  to  Guiana  which  explored 
the  South  American  <  -ast  as  far  south  as  the  Amazon. 
Of  this  also  lie  published  an  account,  written,  as  was 
the  other,  in  some  of  the  best  prose  of  the  Elizabethan 
perioil ;  in  both  he  set  forth  to  the  English  people  the 
boundless  wealth  of  America  and  the  advantage  and 
practicability  of  colonizing  it.  Of  the  vast  territory 
in  the  region  of  the  Oronoko  and  the  Amazon  which 
Raleigh  urged  England  to  seize,  it  now  holds  British 
Guiana — a  country  about  one  and  half  times  the 
size  of  North  Carolina. 
June  21.  Led  the  English  to  victory  in  the  great  naval 
battle  of  Cadiz.  This  fight  placed  him  on  the  pin- 
nacle of  his  fame  as  commander  of  warships,  re-instat- 
ed him  in  the  counsels  of  his  Sovereign,  and  made 
Great  Britain,  for  the  first  time,  Mistress  of  the  Seas. 

1597 — Sent  another  expedition  to  Guiana  which  obsequiously 
confirmed  his  own  previous  accounts.  It  returned 
without  adding  any  new  information,  or  materially 
advancing  the  policy  of  exploration  and  conquest 
which  lay  next  to  his  heart.  It  was  shrewdly  sur- 
mised that  the  Spanish,  failing  in  open  warfare,  were 
beginning  to  try  the  effect  of  gold  upon  his  subordi- 
nates as  well  as  his  superiors  in  office. 
Sept.  Stormed,  at  the  head  of  a  small  force,  the  town  of 
Fayal  in  the  Azores.  It  was  his  last  battle  and  only 
added  another  spark  to  the  envy  of  him  which  now  in- 
creased with  his  fame. 

1602 — Nov.  4.     Had  his  last  interview  with  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. 

1603 — Despatched  two  expeditions  to  America,  the  last  of 
five  which  he  sent  at  his  own  charge  to  search  for  the 
"lost  colony." 
March  30.  The  Queen  died,  and  with  her  perished  Ra- 
leigh's hopes  of  preferment  and  even  of  personal 
safety.  He  had  spent  his  years  of  freedom  in  oppos- 
ing "the  tyrannous  ambition  of  Spain,"  and  now  his 
well-beloved  •  England  was  to  be  governed  by  a  mon- 
arch, James  I,  who  had  taken  into  his  counsels  the 


58         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

mercenaries  of  Spain — the  country  with  which  Ra- 
leigh was  even  then  urging  war.  He  also  wrote  a 
letter  denouncing  Cecil,  James'  chief  officer  and  ad- 
viser and  one  who  was  then  privily  receiving  five 
thousand  crowns  a  year  from  the  Spanish  Government. 

July  17.  Was  arrested  on  the  charge  of  treasonable 
conspiracy  with  the  Spanish  Government. 

July  18.  Was  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  to  await  his  trial 
which  could  not  commence  at  once  on  account  of  the 
great  plague  which  was  then  raging  in  London. 

Nov.  17.  He  was  brought  to  trial  at  Winchester  on  the 
charge  of  high  treason  and  convicted  on  the  same  day. 
The  prosecution  was  conducted  by  the  famous  law 
writer,  Coke.  Raleigh  plead  his  own  cause,  the  laws 
of  England  not  allowing  him  to  have  counsel  for  his 
defense;  nor  was  he  confronted  by  the  witnesses 
against  him.  The  jury  was  packed,  the  testimony 
against  him  was  perjured,  the  Court  was  subservient 
to  the  Crown,  and  at  least  one  member  of  it,  Cecil, 
was  in  the  pay  of  the  Spanish  Government.  Immed- 
iately after  his  conviction  he  was  roundly  abused  from 
the  bench  by  Chief  Justice  Popham,  who  presided  over 
the  Court,  and  then  sentenced  to  death.  But  he  was 
not  then  executed.  Popular  favor  which  he  had  sac- 
rificed some  years  before  by  acepting  from  Queen 
Elizabeth  a  monopoly  of  the  tax  on  wines  and  liquors, 
was  in  a  measure  now  restored  to  him  on  account  of 
his  persecution  and  misfortunes.  England  would 
not  believe,  though  a  court  record  had  spoken  the  lie, 
that  the  great  enemy  of  Spain  who  had  spoiled  her  by 
land  and  ruined  her  prestige  on  the  seas,  would  betray 
into  her  power  his  own  country. 

Dec.  10.  His  sentence  was  commuted  to  imprisonment. 
The  man  of  action  and  exploit  was  now  caged  for  his 
long  confinement.  He  was  stripped  of  his  vast  pos- 
sessions that  they  might  enrich  the  fawning  favorites 
of  the  king. 
1604 — In  prison  he  took  up  the  study  of  physical  sciences, 
especially  the  properties  of  medicinal  herbs,  and  his 
cell  became  the  resort  of  learned  men.  He  was  visited 
by  those  concerned  in  his  plans  for  colonizing  America, 


Thk  Raleigh  Calendar.  59 

among  them  his  friend  Hariot  who  wrote  the  most 
intelligent  account  of  Lane's  expedition.  Hackluyt, 
patriot  and  historian,  also  the  principal  assignee  of 
his  franchises  and  interests  in  "Virginia,"  more  than 
any  other  man  caught  the  spirit  of  his  enterprise  and 
kept  popular  interest  alive,  until  King  James  was 
forced  by  public  sentiment  or  tempted  by  his  own  lust 
for  fame  and  dominion  to  give  his  sanction  to  sending 
a  colony  to  America. 

1606 — The  most  persistent  efforts  were  made  to  set  Raleigh 
at  liberty,  as  his  colonizing  scheme  again  grew  into 
favor.  Queen  Anne,  of  England,  and  the  King  of 
Denmark,  and  James'  oldest  son,  Henry,  used  their 
utmost  efforts  in  his  behalf,  but  without  avail. 

1606 — Apr.  22.  James  granted  a  new  charter  to  the  two 
companies  who  now  proposed  to  undertake  the  coloni- 
zation qf  "Virginia."  Among  the  four  named  corpor- 
ators of  the  Company  which  settled  Jamestown  stands 
the  name  of  Raleigh  Gilbert,  doubtless  a  nephew  of  the 
great  explorer,  after  whom  he  was  named.  The  treas- 
urer and  general  manager  of  this  company  was  Sir 
Thomas  Smith  who  had  acted  in  the  same  capacity 
over  the  company  by  which  the  settlements  on  Roanoke 
Island  were  effected:  Of  the  nineteen  corporators  of 
the  "City  of  Raleigh"  which  John  White  was  enjoined 
to  build  in  1587 ,  ten  were  among  those  who  subscribed 
to  the  Jamestown  expedition.  Raleigh  in  prison,  the 
men  he  had  inspired  were  still  the  chief  promoters  of 
American  colonization. 

1607 — Jan.  1.  The  expedition  under  Captain  Newport 
known  as  the  Jamestown  expedition  set  sail  for  Roan- 
oke Island,  but  was  driven  by  a  storm  into  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  the  shores  of  which,  twenty  years  before, 
Raleigh  had  designated  for  the  settlement  of  the  lost 
colony.  This  Chesapeake  country  was  within  the 
limits  of  the  territory  granted  him  by  Queen  Eliza- 
beth, and  his  grant  was  kept  in  force  in  the  hands  of 
his  assignees  until  it  was  revoked  by  James  to  pave  the 
way  for  that  monarch  to  possess  himself  of  the  fruits 
of  Raleigh's  labors  and  at  the  same  time  belittle  so 
much  of  his  fame  as  he  could  not  appropriate. 


60         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

The  people  of  the  nineteen  States  and  five  parts  of 
States  embraced  in  the  territory  of  Raleigh's  "Vir- 
ginia" on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi,,  owe  to  him  their 
first  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  land  they  occupy.  It  is 
fitting  that  North  Carolina,  on  whose  soil  his  far- 
reaching  experiments  were  made,  should  have  taken 
the  lead  in  erecting  suitable  memorials  of  his  labors; 
but  the  other  States,  and  Virginia  especially,  should 
be  proud  to  follow  the  State  which  more  than  a  cen- 
tury ago  named  its  capital  in  his  honor. 

16-14 — Published  his  "History  of  the  World" — a  book  com- 
mended by  Cromwell  and  studied  by  Milton.  Ra- 
leigh's royal  persecutor  objected  to  its  circula- 
tion on  the  ground  that  its  criticism  of  the  an- 
cient Assyrian  kings  and  of  Henry  VIII  of  England 
might  be  construed  into  a  reflection  on  James'  own 
government.  The  notion  that  only  a  king  was  com- 
petent to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  conduct  of  a  king, 
with  the  similar  fallacies  inherited  from  him  by  his 
son  Charles  I,  cost  the  latter  first  his  crown  and  then 
his  head. 

1616 — March  19.  Was  released  from  the  Tower  after  an  im- 
prisonment for  more  than  twelve  years,  broken  in 
health  and  no  longer  fitted  to  endure  the  activities 
which  had  made  him  famous,  but  in  spirit  he  was  as 
undaunted  as  ever,  and  immediately  began  to  fit  out 
an  expedition  to  America. 

His  enthusiasm  seemed  to  suit  the  purposes  of  the 
king  who  was  bent  on  marrying  his  son  Charles  into 
the  royal  family  of  Spain  and  hoped  that  the  fear  of 
the  great  "sea-rover"  might  succeed  where  diplomacy 
had   failed. 

1617 — June  12.  Sailed  out  of  Plymouth  harbor  on  his  last 
voyage  for  America.  His  expedition  had  been  partly 
appointed  by  his  enemies  and  not  without  design: 
One  ship  deserted  him  before  he  was  half  across  the 
Atlantic ;  another  was  lost  in  a  storm ;  others  still  were 
hulks  of  disease  commanded  by  disloyal  captains  and 
manned  by  men  whom  he  called  mere  "scum."  There 
is  no  better  picture  in  English  history  than  that  of 
this  old  man,  broken  in  health,  racked  by  fever,  long 


The  Raleigh  Calendar.  61 

separated  from  the  kindred  spirits  of  his  dauntless 
manhood,  steadily  setting  his  face  toward  the  sunset 
to  make  his  last  play  for  a  continent  which  the  vanity 
and  treachery  of  his  king  cast  away. 

Nov.  17.  Anchored  in  the  mouth  of  Cayenne  River 
in  the  Island  of  Trinidad.  On  the  mainland  the 
I  udians  still  rememhered  him  though  it  was  more  than 
twenty  years  since  his  first  visit,  and  flocked  to  the 
coast  when  they  heard  he  had  returned. 

Himself  too  feeble  to  lead,  he  dispatched  his  son 
and  his  old  friend  Captain  Keymis,  with  a  party  of 
men,  up  the  Oronoko  to  search  for  a  mine  the  Spanish 
and  the  Indians  had  told  him  existed  somewhere  in 
that  region. 

Dec.  31.  The  party  were  attacked  by  the  Spanish  near 
San  Thome  and  in  the  fighting  which  followed  the 
younger  Raleigh  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
mand. 
1618 — The  Oronoko  expedition  returned  and  brought  with  it 
the  certain  tidings  of  its  failure  and  disasters  and  also 
a  letter  which  proved  that  the  king  of  England  had 
warned  the  Spanish  Government  of  Raleigh's  ap- 
proach. The  great  navigator  saw  now  that  he  had 
been  betrayed  into  a  death  trap. 

Reproached  by  him  for  his  ill-success,  Keymis  com- 
mitted suicide.  In  a  counsel  of  the  remaining  cap- 
tains, Raleigh  proposed  that  they  revictual  the  ships 
in  Virginia  and  return  to  search  for  the  mine,  but  two 
of  them  deserted,  leaving  him  without  sufficient  force 
to  contend  with  his  daily  increasing  enemies.  All 
his  resources  exhausted  at  last  he  sailed  homeward 
by  way  of  New  Foundland,  but  there  is  no  record 
that  he  passed  near  enough  to  our  shores  to  behold  the 
land  he  had  spent  more  than  a  million  dollars  to 
colonize  as  measured  in  the  currency  of  these  times. 

June  21.  Arrived  at  Plymouth  in  his  flag-ship  the 
Destiny  and  shortly  thereafter  was  arrested.  The 
king  held  out  his  execution  as  an  inducement  to  the 
proposed  marriage  of  his  son  Charles  to  the  Spanish 
Tnfanta.     The  wily  Spaniards  were  shrewd  enough 


62         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

to  have  the  execution  come  off  first,  and  the  marriage 
never  come  off  at  all. 

Oct.  15.  The  king  of  Spain  declined  James'  offer  to 
turn  Raleigh  over  to  him  to  be  executed,  but  requested 
that  the  business  be  done  by  the  English  King,  and 
as  soon  as  possible. 

Oct.  28.  Raleigh  was  condemned  to  die  on  the  old 
charge  of  treasonable  conspiracy  with  the  govern- 
ment whose  head  was  now  demanding  his  death  for  the 
invasion  of  Spanish  territory. 

Oct.  29.  Was  executed  in  the  67th  year  of  his  age, 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  soldier,  navigator,  explorer,  au- 
thor, poet,  philosopher  and  patriot,  the  statesman  who 
wrested  our  continent  from  Spain,  the  pioneer  who 
first  planted  the  seeds  of  law  and  liberty  and  Anglo- 
Saxon  civilization  in  America,  the  hero-martyr  of 
English  colonization  on  our  shores. 

His  name  and  fame  are  indissolubly  linked  with  North 
Carolina.  He  made  the  first  chapter  of  her  history,  which 
is  also  the  first  chapter  of  Anglo-American  history,  and  one 
day  the  English  speaking  race  on  this  continent,  with  the 
Carolinians  in  the  lead,  will  call  its  brethren  across  the  seas 
and  go  back  to  the  Island  where  it  began  its  conquering 
march  to  do  honor  to  the  man  who  gave  himself  and  all  he 
had  for  its  advancement. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  POETS  -THEIR  WORK 


Address  by  Kkv    HIGHT  0    MOORE  Before  Fourth  Annual  Meet- 
ing of  the  State  Literary  and  IIihtohk/ai,  Association, 

12    N.»\  KMIJi:!!,    1908. 


There  is  perhaps  no  section  of  America  that  can  furnish 
;.  richer  background  for  exalted  poetry  than  .Yorth  Carolina. 
The  opening  leaves  of  her  history  tell  of  the  famous  Raleigh, 
the  mysterious  "Croatan,"  little  Virginia  Dare  and  Flora 
McDonald.  The  Mecklenburg  Declaration  was  the  first  fear- 
less cry  for  American  liberty,  and  Alamance  was  the  "first 
fought  field  of  freedom."  The  heroism  of  Carolinians  was 
exhibited  in  the  wars  with  England  and  Mexico,  and  when 
reluctantly  North  Carolina  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Confed- 
eracy "she  furnished  more  soldiers  than  she  had  voters 
and  lost  more  men  than  any  other  Southern  State."  There 
is  also  poetic  inspiration  in  the  charm  of  her  scenery 

"  From  Mitchell,  the  pride  of  the  mountains, 
To  Hatteras,  the  dread  of  the  sea." 

But  despite  our  wealth  of  poetic  theme,  we  are  twitted  with 
the  declaration  that  our  State  is  a  land  without  a  poetry,  a 
solitude  without  "a  warbler  of  woodnotes  wild."  Sift  the 
jingles  by  your  army  of  rhymesters,  our  critics  say,  and  you 
will  have  little  genuine  poetry  left.  Even  so;  let  a  just 
and  fair  criticism  be  meted  out  upon  our  writers  of  verse — 
it  is  precisely  what  we  have  needed  for  long.  But  the  decap- 
itation of  all  our  poets  at  one  blow  can  be  done  only  by  a 
critic  who  is  sadly  lacking  in  either  insight  or  information. 
He  probably  is  unaware  of  the  existence  of  more  than  fifty 
volumes  to  the  credit  of  our  poets,  at  least  a  dozen  of  which 
embody  genuine  poetry.  He  may  not  know  that  a  few  of  our 
bards  have  won  high  praise  from  the  foremost  literary  critics 
in  America,  or  possibly  he  is  unable  to  appreciate  such  stir- 
ring lines  as  Holden's  "Hatteras,"  Fuller's  "The  Last  Look," 
Boner's  "Poe's  Cottage  at  Fordham,"  Sledd's  "The  Chil- 
dren," or  Stockard's  "Homer."  But  the  fact  remains,  North 
Carolina  has  a  poetry  of  her  own ;  some  of  her  bards  have 


64         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

sung  gracefully  and  nobly;  and  she  may  well  be  proud  of 
them. 

VERSES     UNINSFIRED. 

And  yet  we  readily  grant  that  the  mass  of  Carolina  verse 
is  uninspired ;  many  of  our  Tar  Heel  melodies  are  far  from 
melodious.  And  when  a  Korth  State  poetaster  strikes  a  dis- 
cordant note  he  makes  a  noise  one  is  not  likely  to  forget. 
More  than  once  the  Charlotte  Observer  has  sent  a  titter  across 
the  State  by  a  review  of  "original  pomes"  by  native  versifiers 
from  the  author  of  "The  Balsam  Groves  of  the  Grandfather 
Mountain,"  to  the  songster  who  nests  in  the  wire-grass  of  the 
lowlands.  Sometime  ago  Charity  and  Children  of  Thomas- 
ville  was  the  victim  of  a  letter  containing  two  specimens  of 
verse — one  "A  Sketch  of  Drunkness,"  and  the  other  on  "The 
Lovely  Little  Pet  Dog" — with  the  following  unpunctuated 
directions :  "Editor  please  publish  these  two  peases  in 
poetry  give  the  name  of  compositioner  in  your  paper  let  us 
have  a  copy  at  elams."  A  correspondent  of  the  Goldsboro 
Headlight  wrote  that  paper  that  he  had  "decided  to  launch 
out  in  the  literary  business"  and  inquired  "if  there's  a  market 
for  poetical  toasts  at  receptions  and  social  gatherings."  He 
further  wrote:  "I  don't  want  anybody  to  buy  a  cat  in  the 
bag,  so  I  herewith  send  samples  of  my  work — throwed  off  on 
the  spur  of  the  moment."  About  the  best  of  the  samples  was 
as  follows : 

"  Here's  to  the  health  of  Silas  Jones, 
He  is  a  man  nobody  owns, 
Mighty  few  people  can  break  his  bones." 

He  concluded  his  letter  saying:  "If  you  want  any  obit- 
uaries on  people  that's  dead*  and  gone,  I  can  fill  them  too  at 
moderate  rates.  All  T  want  out  of  life  is  a  living."  Prob- 
ably surpassing  either  of  these  lovers  of  the  muse  was  yet 
another  whose  effusion  finally  came  to  the  light  of  print  in 
the  columns  of  the  New  Bern  Journal  under  the  following 
card :  "Dear  Sir : — I  sent  you  a  poem  last  week  and  asked 
you  to  publish  it  in  your  paper.  You  declined  and  returned 
it  to  me  with  the  crushing  reply  that  T  was  no  poet,  and  that 
you  could  turn  out  better  poetry  out  of  a  sausage  mill.  Xow 
I  won't  be  crushed  and  T  propose  to  show  up  your  attempt  to 


J 


North  Carolina  Poets  and  Their  Work.         65 

throttle  bubbling  genius.  Publish  this  card  and  the  follow- 
ing poem  in  your  columns  and  charge  to  me  at  your  advertis- 
ing rates."  Upon  such  a  back-ground  as  this  we  could  hardly 
criticise  the  sophomore  who  taking  the  Latin  sentence  "Poeta 
nascitur  non  fit"  is  said  to  have  translated  it  '•The  poet  is 
nasty  and  not  fitten." 

But  aside  from  such  froth  there  is  more  serious  and  ambi- 
tious work  which  is  lacking  in  poetic  fire.  Perhaps  as  many 
as  twelve  or  fifteen  volumes  of  native  verse  have  been  the  work 
of  authors  and  authoresses  not  out  of  their  teens ;  and  most  of 
their  pages  we  read  in  a  vain  search  for  one  inspiring  thought 
or  line.  A  poetess  hailing  from  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington 
who  is  said  to  have  published  two  volumes  of  her  work  at  her 
own  expense  was  the  butt  of  much  merriment  two  or  three 
years  ago  in  the  New  York  and  Norfolk  papers  as  well  as  in 
our  own  State  press.  And  there  have  been  men  of  real  abil- 
ity in  other  departments  of  thought  and  life  who  have  been 
quickest  of  all  to  lament  their  early  poetic  escapades.  The 
author  of  "Francis  Herbert  and  Other  Poems,"  more  distin- 
guished in  law  than  in  poetry,  sought  to  recall  his  volume 
from  the  hands  of  every  purchaser  and  to  destroy  it.  Dr. 
Thomas  Wilson,  of  New  Bern,  wrote  a  volume  in  early  life 
but  later  being  more  skilled  with  pills  than  with  poems  he 
threw  a  friend's  copy  of  his  poems  into  the  fire  with  words  of 
deprecation.  So  great  a  man  as  Dr.  Deems  became  was 
guilty  of  writing  a  small  volume  of  poems  before  he  was 
twenty.  The  magazine  in  which  he  expected  a  most  appre- 
ciative notice  is  reported  to  have  contained  the  brief  and 
scathing  comment:  "The  young  writer  is  advised  to  take  to 
the  measles  or  whooping  cough,  but  do  not  take  to  writing 
verse." 

THE   LIONS   IN   THE   WAY. 

So  in  any  adequate  review  of  the  poetic  literature  of  the 
State  Ave  must  reckon  with  a  great  deal  of  matter  ordinary 
and  sub-ordinary.  But.  the  fact  is  that  our  poets  have  had  to 
encounter  many  lions  in  the  way.  For  one  thing,  they  have 
had  to  struggle  for  a  living  and  have  had  little  time  for  court- 
ing the  muse.  As  a  result,  the  divine  afflatus  has  escaped 
through  their  pores  rather  than  their  pens.  And  as  to  re- 
5 


66         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

numeration,  who  ever  heard  of  a  publisher  buying  a  manu- 
script volume  of  poems  by  a  North  Carolinian  ?  Probably 
not  one  was  ever  undertaken  independently  by  a  publisher. 
It  is  easy  to  believe  that  some  of  our  best  authors  have  pub- 
lished their  verses  at  actual  financial  loss ;  others  have  barely 
come  out  even ;  none  have  made  money.  While  some  of  our 
later  bards  have  been  paid  handsomely  for  fugitive  pieces, 
yet  the  rule  is  that  in  dollars  and  cents  Xorth  Carolina  poetry 
doesn't  pay. 

Again,  it  must  be  confessed  that  our  best  singers  have  been 
received  with  scant  popular  appreciation;  seldom  an  expres- 
sion of  encouragement  and  never  an  encore.  One  could 
hardly  say  that  even  the  literary  public  in  the  State  is  in- 
clined to  native  verse  and  of  course  the  masses  are  quite  un- 
aware of  its  extent  and  value.  The  people's  judgment  and 
patronage  of  home  verse  has  not  been  such  as  to  stimulate  its 
production.  To  only  a  limited  extent  has  Mrs.  Clarke's  hope 
been  realized  that  the  best  of  native  verse  will  be  dear  to 
North  Carolinians  "as  the  note  of  the  mocking  bird  in  our 
native  woods  is  sweeter  to  the  ear  of  patriotism  than  the  songs 
of  the  nightingale  in  foreign  climes." 

Moreover,  our  existent  poetic  literature  has  been  the  victim 
^f  poor  critical  judgment.  Under  proper  criticism  the  true 
poet  is  spurred  to  higher  nights  of  poesy;  he  does  better  work 
when  he  knows  that  discriminating  eyes  are  following  the 
movements  of  his  pen.  But  hitherto  the  Carolina  poetic 
barque  has  encountered  danger  between  the  Scylla  and  Cha- 
rvbdis  of  fulsome  praise  and  indiscriminate  censure.  On  the 
one  Land  he  has  been  flattered  by  a  friend  or  two  less  endowed 
with  poetic  insight  than  personal  friendship,  and  on  the  other 
he  has  been  wounded  by  the  blade  of  a  too-sweeping  disap- 
proval. True  and  thorough  criticism  would  greatly  help  the 
oause  of  native  verse. 

Not  to  mention  any  other,-  we  may  note  the  lack  of  artistic 
literary  training  as  accounting  in  part  for  the  rarity  of  real 
literature  among  us.  Our  poets  have  generally  exhibited 
more  heart  than  mind.  Nearly  always  their  feelings  have 
rung  true,  but  their  forms  of  expression  have  too  often  been 
tame,  insipid,  lacking  in  freshness  and  in  fire.  Tt  is  not  due 
to  paucity  of  poetic  materials  nor  so  much  to  intellectual 


North  C'apouna  Poets  and  their   Wokk.         67 

mediocrity  or  limited  poetic  power  as  to  deficiencies  in  liter- 
ary training.  The  defect  may  be  traced  partly  to  our  schools 
and  colleges.  Then  has  been  wanting  also  the  clash  of  kin- 
dred spirits  in  sympathetic  critical  association.  The  individ- 
ual discipline  of  mind  and  of  work  which  insures  that  each 
piece  is  brought  to  the  highest  possible  refinement  before  it 
is  rushed  into  print  are  also  to  be  taken  into  account.  When 
these  things  are  remedied,  we  shall  enter  the  era  of  a  richer 
and  more  extended  literature. 

ON  THE  SLOPES  OF  PARNASSUS. 

And  vet  in  spite  of  headless  rhymesters  and  heartless  critics 
and  mountainous  difficulties  a  few  of  our  writers  have  un- 
doubtedly ascended  the  slopes  of  Parnassus.  It  was  fifty 
years  ago  and  before  the  bulk  of  our  best  poetry  was  written 
that  Mrs.  Clarke  in  her  preface  to  "Wood- Notes"  said : 
"Though  we  may  not  have  produced  any  great  poets  still  these 
(footprints  of  the  muse)  will  show  that  we  possess  some  of 

'The  poets  that  are  sown 
By  nature;  men  endowed  with  highest  gifts, 
The  vision  and  faculty  divine."' 

There  is  a  much  larger  circle  of  native  poets  than  our 
people  are  aware  of,  and  many  of  them  have  sung  sweetly, 
once  in  a  while  sublimely.  The  note  of  patriotism  sounded 
by  Judge  William  Gaston  in  "The  Old  North  State  Forever" 
is  repeated  by  our  school  children  from  Murphy  to  Manteo, 
and  is  sung  by  scattered  Carolinians  the  world  over.  The 
great  poem  on  "Ilatteras"  by  Joseph  W.  Holden  was  pro- 
nounced by  General  Clingman  the  finest  of  Southern  poems, 
by  Walter  H.  Page  the  best  poem  in  sentiment  and  tone  yet 
written  in  the  South,  and  it  was  included  by  Longfellow  in  his 
collection  of  the  best  American  poems.  Mrs.  Frances  C. 
Tiernan — "Christian  Reid" — though  author  of  many  popu- 
lar novels  has  also  written  excellent  verse  entitling  her  to  a 
high  place  among  our  poets.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Oakes  Smith, 
native  of  Maine,  intimate  friend  of  Longfellow,  wife  of  Seba 
Smith  (the  Major  Jack  Downing  of  literature,)  and  a  lit- 
erary star  of  the  northern  galaxy,  spent  her  last  years  in  this 
State  and  she  rests  near  "The  Anchorage,"  her  adopted  home 


68         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

at  Hollywood.  Nixon  P.  Clingman  wrote  numerous  poems 
of  a  high  order ;  in  fact,  Mr.  Joseph  E.  Robinson's  sketch  in 
"A  Poet  and  his  Songs/'  which  contains  fifty  of  Mr.  Cling- 
man's  poems  calls  him  "the  Robert  Burns  of  North  Caro- 
lina." 

Not  to  swing  further  around  the  circle  we  may  stop  for 
brief  biographical  and  literary  mention  in  alphabetical  order 
the  half  dozen  poets  who  have  thus  far  written  most  and  best 
within  our  borders — our  greater  poets  upon  whom  our  present 
poetic  reputation  stands. 

John  Henry  Boner  was  born  in  Salem  Jan.  31,  1845.  He 
received  a  good  academic  education,  learned  the  printer's 
trade,  and  later  became  editor  in  his  home  town  and  in 
Asheville.  He  was  reading  clerk  of  the  State  Constitutional 
Convention  in  1868. and  chief  clerk  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives the  following  year.  At  thirty-five  he  married  Miss 
Lottie  Smith,  of  Raleigh.  In  1871  he  moved  to  Washington 
City  where  he  spent  sixteen  years  in  the  Government  Printing 
Office.  In  1887  he  moved  to  New  York  where  he  did  literary 
work  as  a  member  of  the  editorial  staffs  on  the  Century  Dic- 
tionary, Appleton's  Cyclopedia,  Library  of  American  Litera- 
ture, and  Standard  Dictionary;  he  was  also  literary  editor 
of  the  New  York  World,  and  later  editor  of  the  Literary  Di- 
gest. Owing  to  failing  health  he  abandoned  his  New  York 
career,  returned  for  a  time  to  his  native  State,  and  again  drift- 
ed to  his  former  post  in  the  national  capital  where  he  died 
March  6,  1903.  Mr.  Boner  was  a  genuine  poet  and  was  rec- 
ognized as  such  at  home  and  abroad.  His  first  work,  "Whis- 
pering Pines,"  published  in  1883,  was  cordially  received  by 
the  critics  and  the  public.  "The  Song  of  the  Old  Mill  Wheel," 
"Bells  of  Christmas,"  and  "We  Walked  Among  the  Whisper- 
ing Pines,"  are  some  of  the  poems  in  the  volume  which  one 
will  cherish  many  a  day  after  reading  them.  In  1901  Mr. 
Boner  published  a  pamphlet  of  his  verse  under  the  title  of 
"Some  New  Poems;"  this  embodied,  I  understand,  most  of 
his  work  in  the  Century  and  a  few  pieces  from  other  maga- 
zines. And  just  before  his  death  he  completed  a  collection 
of  verse  which  has  since  appeared  under  the  title  of  "Boner's 
Lyrics ;"  it  embodies  in  the  author's  view  the  best  of  all  the 


North  Carolina  Poets  and  Their  Work.         69 

work  he  did  and  certainly  entitles  him  to  an  abiding  place  in 
OUT  Slate  literature. 

Mary  Bayard  Clarke,  daughter  of  Thomas  P.  Devereux, 
was  born  in  Raleigh,  May  12,  1829.  She  took  at  home  ondet 
a  governess  the  same  course  pursued  by  her  brother  at  Prince- 
ton and  was  therefore  highly  educated.  Tn  1848  she  was 
married  by  her  uncle  Bishop  Leonidas  Polk  at  his  home  near 
New  Orleans  to  Capt.  William  J.  Clarke,  graduate  of  our 
State  University,  Confederate  officer,  later  judge  and  literatus 
in  North  Carolina.  She  and  her  husband  were  close  friends 
of  Gen.  and  Mrs.  Robert  E.  Lee.  Her  culture  was  enriched 
by  travel,  particularly  wintering  in  Cuba  and  six  or  seven 
years  in  Texas.  Her  later  life  was  spent  in  New  Bern 
where  she  died  March  31,  1886,  just  two  months  after  the 
death  of  her  husband.  At  sixteen  she  wrote  her  first  poem — 
"Nemo  Semper  Felix  Est"  which  her  son  (who  left  a  type- 
written sketch  of  her  life)  considered  rarely  equaled  by  later 
and  more  studied  composition.  She  herself  considered  "Un- 
der the  Lava"  her  best  poem ;  it  is  truly  a  fine  piece  of  work 
but  certainly  "The  Triumph  of  Spring"  is  its  equal,  many 
would  say  superior.  In  1845  Mrs.  Clarke  made  the  first 
compilation  of  State  verse — "Wood  Notes;  or  Carolina 
Carols :  A  Collection  of  North  Carolina  Poetry."  It  appear- 
ed in  two  volumes  and  contained  one  hundred  and  eighty-two 
poems  by  sixty  writers,  "Tenella"  herself  in  eight  poems 
furnishing  the  best  work  in  the  volumes.  Her  second  work 
appeared  in  1866,  contained  sixty  poems,  and  was  entitled 
"Mosses  From  a  Rolling  Stone;  or  Idle  Moments  of  a  Busy 
Woman."  The  last  of  her  works  was  a  long  poem  of  sixty- 
five  pages  entitled  "Clytie  and  Zenobia,  or,  The  Lily  and  the 
Palm."  It  was  published  in  1871.  Though  other  women 
have  written,  some  of  them  well,  yet  no  other  has  yet  ap- 
proached Mrs.  Clarke  in  either  quality  or  volume  of  work ; 
beyond  question  "Tenella"  still  remains  the  queen  poetess 
among  Carolina  bards. 

Edwin  Wiley  Fuller  was  a  native  of  Louisburg  where  he 
was  born  Nov.  30,  1847.  "The  Village  on  the  Tar"  was  his 
first  published  poem  and  it  evinces  the  talent  later  shown. 
He  entered  our  State  University  in  1864  and  spent  two  years. 
In  1867  he  went  to  the  University  of  Virginia  to  spend  a 


70         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

year.  While  there  he  contributed  to  the  University  Maga- 
zine "The  Angel  in  the  Cloud,"  then  covering  only  a  few 
pages.  It  is  said  to  have  won  high  praise  from  such  men 
as  Dr.  Scheie  De  Vere,  Dr.  Gildersleeve,  Prof.  Holmes  and 
others.  It  is  interesting,  to  note  that  he  once  contemplated 
entering  the  ministry  but  his  father's  failing  health  bound 
him  to  business  and  thus  he  continued  merchandising  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  In  1871  he  revised  and  published 
"Angel  in  the  Cloud,"  a  poetic  and  philosophic  statement  and 
refutation  of  heart-questionings.  His  preface  requests  a 
complete  reading  if  any  at  all  and  then  "In  the  bulrush  ark 
of  self-confidence,  pitched  with  faith"  he  commits  his  "first 
born  to  the  Nile  of  public  opinion;  whether  to  perish  by 
crocodile  critics  or  bask  in  the  palace  of  favor  the  future 
alone  must  determine.  May  Pharaoh's  daughter  find  it!" 
And  so  it  came  to  pass ;  his  work  is  regarded  as  the  most  orig- 
inal long  poem  ever  produced  in  the  State  and  he  is  esteemed 
our  poet-philosopher.  No  other  work  has  passed  through 
foUr  editions  in  ten  years  as  was  the  case  with  "Angel  in  the 
Cloud."  The  third  and  fourth  editions  contain  a  sketch  of 
the  author  and  additional  poems  of  which  "The  Last  Look" 
and  "Out  in  the  Rain"  are  rare  gems — the  crystalized  tears 
of  a  deeply  bereft  parent.  With  only  the  plan  of  a  new  poem 
worked  out  which  gave  promise  of  surpassing  that  upon  which 
his  fame  rests  and  with  a  memorial  ode  upon  his  lips  his 
poet's  soul  passed  hence  April  22,  1876. 

Theophilus  Hunter  Hill,  native  of  Wake  county,  was  born 
Oct.  31,  1836.  Though  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858  he  never 
practiced,  his  mind  inclining  him  more  to  literary  work  than 
to  law.  He  did  some  editorial  work  and  was  at  one  time 
State  Librarian,  but  his  fame  was  won  through  his  poetical 
writings.  His  first  volume,  "Hesper  and  Other  Poems"  was 
published  in  Raleigh  in  1861  under  copyright  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  of  America.  In  1869  a  second  volume  appeared ; 
it  was  simply  entitled  "Poems"  and  was  published  by  Hurd 
and  Houghton,  New  York.  His  third  volume — "Passion 
Flower  and  Other  Poems"  and  the  only  one  of  his  works  not 
out  of  print,  I  believe — was  published  in  1883  by  P.  W. 
Wiley,  of  Raleigh.  The  closing  days  of  his  life  were  spent, 
I  have  heard,  in  final  revision  of  such  of  his  poetical  writings 


North  Carolina  Poets  and  their  Work.         71 

as  he  esteemed  worthy  of  preservation.  It  is  much  to  be 
regretted  that  he  was  unable  to  complete  his  work  as  did  his 
dear  friend  Mr.  Honor.  Perhaps  a  fitting  collection  may  yet 
be  made,  for  generous  as  has  been  the  reception  of  his  verse 
it  is  entitled  to  yet  wider  recognition.  It  is  marked  by  state- 
liness  and  reverence  and  every  piece  is  manifestly  the  product 
not  only  of  the  poet's  soul  but  of  his  intellect  as  well.  His 
lines  on  "Sunset"  reveal  him  as  a  sympathetic  observer  and 
painter  of  nature.  The  memorial  verses  entitled  "Willie" 
are  remarkably  sweet  and  tender.  "The  Star  above  the  Man- 
ger" has  become  a  recitation  classic  in  almost  every  school 
room  in  the  State.  His  work  throughout  bears  the  stamp  of 
a  pious  nature.  Shortly  before  his  death  June  29,  1901,  he 
wrote  his  last  poem,  "At  Eventide,"  the  closing  stanza  of 
which  fittingly  and  representatively  crowns  a  worthy  poetic 
career : 

"  As  of  old,  ever  new  the  sweet  story 
Of  Christ  the  Redeemer  of  men; 
When  grace  is  transfigured  to  glory 
May  we  sing  it  together  again." 

Benjamin  Sledd,  Professor  of  English  in  Wake  Forest 
College,  though  native  of  Virginia,  has  produced  his  poetry 
on  North  Carolina  soil  where  he  married  and  where  the  main 
part  of  his  professional  life  has  thus  far  been  spent.  Two 
interesting  volumes  have  lately  come  from  his  pen.  "From 
Cliff  and  Scaur"  appeared  in  1897  from  the  presses  of  the 
Putnam's,  New  York  and  London.  Reviewing  the  volume  in 
the  Biblical  Recorder  Editor  J.  W.  Bailey  said:  "His  lines 
are  marble  like  in  finish,  in  refinement,  and  in  purity.  Wheth- 
er he  plays  upon  some  soulful  instrument  or  draws  the  picture 
in  the  mind's  eye  or  touches  the  silvery  strings  of  the  lyre 
of  love  or  sends  forth  to  God  a  prayer  from  life's  deeps,  there 
is  ever  that  same  genuineness,  refinement,  delicacy,  and  sim- 
plicity which  mark  the  artist."  Mr.  Sledd's  second  volume 
was  published  by  the  Gorham  Press  of  Boston  as  number  one 
of  the  Arcadian  Library.  As  its  title; — "Watchers  of  the 
Hearth" — indicates,  it  centers  around  the  fire-side  with  its 
child-treasures,  though  there  is  a  genuine  sympathy  with 
nature,  a  few  touches  of  national  interest,  and  poems  rem- 
iniscent.    By  competent  critics  this  second  volume  is  regard- 


72         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

ed  as  registering  a  distinct  advance  upon  the  first  "as  regards 
both  workmanship  and  outlook  upon  life."  Reviewing  it  in 
the  News  and  Observer  Prof.  W.  L.  Poteat  says:  "In  the 
dainty  volume  before  us  a  genuine  poet  heart  finds  utterance. 
These  poems  are  not  echoes,  but  the  unconstrained  and  free 
outpourings  of  a  singularly  delicate  and  tender  soul  which 
sings  its  own  song  and  not  another's,  and  sings  truly  because 
it  has  lived  deeply."  Another  reviewer  says:  "One  is  invar- 
iably impressed  with  two  qualities  in  Prof.  Sledd's  poems; 
the  crystal  purity  of  their  form,  perfect  to  the  last  word  and 
note ;  and  the  utter  genuineness  of  his  sentiments." 

Henry  Jerome  Stockard  is  a  native  of  Alamance  county 
and  has  given  his  life  to  the  cause  of  culture.  As  educator 
he  has  held  important  positions  at  Graham,  Chapel  Hill, 
Monroe,  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  and  now  at  Raleigh.  For 
years  he  has  been  writing  verse  for  such  magazines  as  the 
Century,  Cosmopolitan,  Belford's,  Harper  s,  Kate  Field's 
Washington,  Ladies'  Home  Journal,  and  The  Sunday  School 
Times.  He  has  also  been  represented  in  collections  of  poetry 
North  and  South;  "Select  Poetry  of  North  Carolina,"  for 
example,  having  more  poems  from  his  pen  than  from  any 
other  writer.  In  1897  his  "Fugitive  Lines"  appeared,  the 
Putnam's  being  the  publishers.  Many  are  the  golden  opin- 
ions won  by  his  verse.  The  Washington  Post  some  years 
ago  said :  "North  Carolina  has  a  promising  poet  in  Henry 
Jerome  Stockard.  He  has  written  some  notable  verses." 
Edmund  Clarence  Stedman  declares  his  sonnets  "good,  in- 
tellectual, and  with  effective  diction."  The  Charlotte  Ob- 
server considers  "he  is  perhaps  the  best  writer  of  verse  in  the 
State."  Dr.  T.  B.  Kingsbury  says  of  the  poems  he  has  read, 
"They  are  replete  with  tender  and  moving  and  exalted 
thought,  as  with  melting  harmonies."  Frank  L.  Stanton  in 
Atlanta  Constitution  mentioning  Mr.  Stockard's  visit  to  the 
Exposition  there  a  few  years  ago  added :  "We  repeat  that 
no  one  to-day  is  writing  better  sonnets  than  those  which  bear 
Mr.  Stockard's  signature — if  indeed  he  is  equaled  in  this, 
the  most  difficult  form  of  verse  *  *  *  There  are  laurels 
for  this  poet  of  the  Old  North  State ;  the  bays  are  blooming 
for  him  from  far  away." 


North  Carolina  Poets  and  Their  Work.         73 

i1ik  best  is  yet  to  be. 

As  a  final  word  we  are  glad  to  note  the  present  poetic  revi- 
val in  North  Carolina.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  more  chaste  and 
elegant  verse  is  now  appearing  than  at  any  period  hitherto 
in  our  history.  Professors  Stockard  and  Sledd  are  just  in 
the  prime  of  their  manhood,  both  located  in  congenial  chairs 
of  literature,  and  both  widely  recognized  as  poets  of  real 
ability;  and  from  them  we  may  expect  even  sweeter  notes 
than  those  already  sung.  A  constellation  of  younger  poets 
has  arisen  and  is  already  brightening  our  literary  sky.  For 
example,  John  Charles  McNeill  has  been  lately  appearing 
in  the  Century  and  other  prominent  periodicals.  The  pen 
of  Leonard  Charles  Van  Noppen  is  also  rich  with  promise. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  Miss  Sue  M.  Whitaker  whose  poem 
on  "Finis"  is  sufficient  to  entitle  her  to  distinction.  Misses 
Dickson  and  Armfield  have  each  in  dainty  volumes  given  us 
the  earliest  buds  of  their  poetic  genius  which  promise  still 
richer  fragrance  in  the  coming  days.  Others  also  are  striking 
melodies  from  their  lyres;  after  awhile  we  may  listen  for  a 
chorus  of  undiscordant  song. 

The  educational  revival  in  the  multitude  of  its  blessings 
is  sure  to  strengthen  and  spread  the  wings  of  poetic  fancy; 
our  lofty  souls  will  better  learn  the  what  and  how  of  the  poetic 
art.  The  easier  industrial  conditions  will  permit  them  time 
to  feel  deeply  and  express  nobly.  The  day  of  keener  criti- 
cism and  more  discriminating  appreciation  is  quite  at  hand 
and  with  it  a  stronger  stimulus  to  the  production  of  purer, 
sweeter  verse.  The  much-talked-of  provincialism  which  is 
credited  with  wet-blanketing  Tar  Heel  genius,  if  it  ever  exist- 
ed at  all,  is  becoming  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  literary  atmos- 
phere is  more  bracing,  fuller  of  intellectual  ozone,  more  invig- 
orating than  in  recent  years.  What  Mr.  Hamilton  Wright 
Mabie  says  of  Southern  poetry  in  general  {International 
Monthly,  Feb.  1902)  applies  also  to  the  work  of  North  Caro- 
lina poets:  "There  is  the  charm  of  the  southern  tempera- 
ment— warmth,  grace,  power  of  abandon,  generosity  of  spirit ; 
qualities  which  re-enforced  by  adequate  artistic  training  and 
adequate  ideas  promise  rich  fruitage  in  the  poetry  of  the 
future." 

Then  let  our  verse-writers  catch  the  inspiration  of  the  hour. 


74         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Let  them  pigeon-hole  or  burn  all  sickly  rhymes  and  valueless 
verse.  Let  them  coin  at  their  mints  only  the  precious  metal 
of  lofty  thought  and  it  will  become  widely  current  in  human 
life.  Let  the  bees  of  Hymettus  with  busier  hum  gather  gen- 
uine honey  from  the  flowers  of  fancy  blooming  in  our  midst. 
Then  our  poets  now  living  as  well  as  bards  unborn  will  verify 
our  prophecy  of  Carolina  poets  that  bright  as  the  past  has 
been  the  best  is  yet  to  be. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  BIBLIOGRAPHY,  1902. 

HISTORICAL  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Read  at  the  Tiiikd  Annual  Mektino  op  the  State  Literary  and 

Historical  Association,  by  Prof.  D.  H.  HILL, 

January  23,  1903. 


Coincident  with  the  great  educational  revival  now  blessing 
North  Carolina,  there  has  come  throughout  the  State  a  quiet, 
apparently  self -born,  but  nevertheless  wide-spread  re-birth  of 
literature.  An  epoch  of  book  making  has  fairly  set  in. 
Happily,  too,  these  books  for  the  most  part  are  not  publica- 
tions of  poor  stuff  by  hasty  compilers  endowed  only  with 
Trollopeian  beeswax.  They  are  the  outcome  of  scholarly, 
well-equipped,  conscience-mindful  men  and  women  whose 
work  has  grown  under  their  hands  because  their  lives  are  full 
and  their  brains  aglow  with  vital  thought. 

It  falls  to  my  lot  to-night  to  present  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  collect  a  brief  synopsis  of  what  for  the  past  year  these 
writers  have  done  in  one  department,  the  department  of  his- 
tory and  its  twin  sister,  biography.  As  this  is  the  first  an- 
ual  report  made  to  this  society,  I  shall  overstep  the- year  line 
a  trifle  and  include  some  books  that  were  publishel  in  1901. 
I  shall  also  include  some  books  that  were  finished  so  far  as 
writing  goes  in  1902,  but  that  are  yet  in  press  or  aAvaiting 
a  publisher.      I  shall  mention  first  the  books,  then  pamphlets. 

Foremost  in  volume  of  historical  work  is  the  first  president 
of  this  Society,  Chief  Justice  Walter  Clark,  whose  industry 
has  kept  pace  with  his  rare  attainments.  Taking  up  the 
wearisome  task  of  editing  and  publishing  the  Colonial 
Records  as  this  love  labor  fell  from  the  dying  hands  of  Col. 
Saunders,  Judge  Clark  published  last  year  the  tenth  volume 
of  this  series — this  being  the  twentieth  volume  of  the  set. 
Two  more  volumes  and  an  index  will  complete  the  set.  Tt 
is  needless  to  say  to  this  body  that  these  massive  books  are 
invaluable  repositories  of  material  for  historical  students. 

Tn  addition,  Judge  Clark,  with  infinite  patience  and  labor, 
completed  the  editing,  revising  and  publishing  of  the  five 
volumes  of  Confederate  Regimental  Histories  provided  for 


76         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

by  State  appropriation.  These  volumes  neatly  printed  by 
E.  M.  Uzzell,  of  Raleigh,  constitute  the  noblest  memorial  yet 
reared  to  the  endurance  and  dauntless  heroism  of  the  soldiers 
of  our  State. 

One  of  the  vice-presidents  of  this  Society,  Dr.  Spencer 
Bassett,  of  Trinity  College,  edited  a  sumptuous  edition  of  the 
"Writings  of  Col.  William  Byrd,  of  Virginia,  Esq."  This 
exceedingly  handsome  volume  is  from  the  presses  of  Double- 
day,  Page  and  Company.  To  scholarly  editing  Dr.  Basset 
adds  an  eighty  page  biography  of  Col.  Byrd.  Dr.  Basset 
has  also  contributed  several  historical  articles  to  the  pages  of 
the  South  Atlantic  Quarterly ,  an  ably  managed  journal  that 
he  has  found  time  during  the  past  year  to  establish  and  man- 
age. 

President  J.  H.  Clewell,  of  Salem  Female  Academy,  has 
contributed  a  valuable  book,  "The  History  of  Wachovia  in 
North  Carolina."  This  four  hundred  page  illustrated  book 
is  also  from  the  press  of  Doubleday,  Page  and  Company. 
"The  volume  is  based  upon  researches  made  in  the  original 
manuscripts  of  the  Salem  archives  and  represents  a  work  of 
translation  and  study  covering  five  or  six  years.  The  book 
contains  the  history  of  this  Colony  during  the  French  and 
Indian  wars;  the  struggle  between  the  Regulators  and  Gov- 
ernor Tryon ;  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolution,  with  all  of 
which  Wachovia  was  associated."  .  The  founding  of  the  town 
and  the  academy  is  also  described. 

Joseph  Alexander  Tillinghast  published  under  the  auspices 
of  the  American  Economic  Association  an  exhaustive  study 
of  the  Negro  Race  in  America.  The  volume,  published  by 
the  Macmillans,  contains  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  pages 
and  a  three-page  bibliography:  The  book  which  is  written 
with  laborious  painstaking,  begins  with  the  Negro  in  Africa, 
describes  his  social  and  political  life  there,  and  then  follows 
the  African  to  this  country  and  outlines  his  life  here. 

Mr.  Cicero  W.  Harris,  now  living  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
issued  during  the  past  year,  through  the  Lippincotts,  the  first 
volume  of  his  "Sectional  Struggle."  This  is  a  handsomely 
printed  book  of  three  hundred  and  forty-three  pages  and  is 
the  result  of  many  years  of  study.  After  the  introductory 
chapter  the  author  devotes  one  hundred  and  forty-five  pages 
to  tariff  issues;  eighty  three  pages  to  the  debates  of  1830; 


North  Carolina  Bibliography,  1902.  77 

and  one  hundred  and  thirty  to  Nullification  and  the  Compro- 
mise of  1833. 

Rev.  Jno.  W.  Stagg,  D.  D.,  of  Charlotte,  has  just  sent  out 
from  the  Press  of  the  Presbyterian  Publication  Committee 
a  historic  and  polemic  study  of  the  teaching  of  Calvin,  Twisse 
and  Edwards.  This  book  which  is  the  result  of  research  and 
clear  thinking,  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  pages. 

Dr.  R.  B.  Creecy,  of  Elizabeth  City,  sent  out  for  young 
folk  and  for  old  folk  with  young  hearts,  his  "Tales  of  a 
Grandfather."  These  tarheel  stories  and  incidents  that  are, 
I  trust  safely  lodged  in  the  libraries  of  every  member  of  this 
Society,  cover  three  hundred  and  one  small  pages  and  were 
published  by  Edwards  &  Broughton,  of  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Somewhat  along  the  same  line,  but  for  younger  readers, 
comes  a  little  book  written  by  Supt.  W.  C.  Allen  of  the 
Waynesville  schools.  This  is  called  "North  Carolina  His- 
tory Stories,"  and  contains  two  hundred  pages.  Many  of  our 
schools  are  using  this  book  as  a  text  book,  and  I  trust  that  it 
may  be  the  means  of  awakening  a  love  of  State  history  in  our 
children. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Tompkins,  of  Charlotte,  has  published  four  or 
five  valuable  technical  works  in  the  past  two  or  three  years. 
Among  these  is  a  large  volume  of  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  pages  on  "Cotton  and  Cotton  Oil."  Several  chapters 
of  this  book  are  devoted  to  historical  matter.  Chapter  second 
for  example,  discusses  the  introduction  of  the  cotton  plant 
into  America  and  the  influence  of  the  cultivation  of  the  plant 
upon  slavery;  chapter  three  is  devoted  to  an  account  of  how 
cotton  was  prepared  for  the  market  by  slave  labor;  chapter 
four  contains  a  vivid  picture  of  the  organization  and  social 
and  industrial  life  of  the  plantation  before  the  Civil  War. 
Mr.   Tompkins  is  his  own  publisher. 

Mr.  James  O.  Carr,  of  the  Wilmington  bar,  edited  and  pub- 
lished a  little  volume  of  the  letters  of  William  Dickson. 
These  old  letters  give  interesting  glimpses  of  N"orth  Carolina 
in  the  early  days. 

Professor  C.  L.  Raper,  of  the  State  University,  is  the 
author  of  "North  Carolina:  a  Royal  Province."  This  is  an 
octavo  volume  of  seventy-three  pages  from  the  press  of  the 
University.     It  discusses  the  government  under  the  Crown, 


78     Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

the  Council,  the  Lower  House,  the  conflict  between  the  execu- 
tive and  the  legislative  branches.  Professor  Raper  has  also 
revised  the  first  edition,  of  his  "Church  and  Private  Schools 
of  North  Carolina." 

The  rare  success  of  the  North  Carolina  Booklet  was  one  of 
the  noteworthy  features  of  the  year.  Its  publication  was 
doubtfully  but  bravely  undertaken  by  the  North  Carolina 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.  These  ladies 
were  singularly  happy  in  the  selection  of  their  editors. 
Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood  and  Miss  Martha  H.  Haywood,  whose 
unflagging  energy  and  business  tact  ran  its  monthly  edition 
up  to  six  hundred  copies.  This  little  magazine  presented 
from  May,  1901,  to  May,  1902,  twelve  single  booklets  on 
North  Carolina  history.  These  books  varied  in  size  from 
Dr.  Creecy's  seven  page  one  on  "Betsy  Dowdy's  Ride"  to 
James  Sprunt's  vivid  one  hundred  and  twelve  page  booklet — 
or  rather  book  on  "Tales  of  the  Cape  Fear  Blockade."  The 
Booklet  has  started  upon  its  second  year  and  every  one  hopes 
that  it  may  grow  in  length  of  days  and  extent  of  usefulness. 

The  James  Sprunt  monographs  of  State  history  under  the 
supervision  of  that  distinguished  veteran  in  patriotic  work. 
Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  are  commendable  additions  to  our  his- 
torical literature.  So  far  three  of  these  monographs  have 
been  issued. 

Mr.  Moses  N.  Amis,  of  Raleigh,  has  put  much  useful  infor- 
mation in  a  little  book  called  "Historic  Raleigh." 

II.        BOOKS    FINISHED    OR   ABOUT    IN    1902    BUT    NOT    YET 
THROUGH  .THE    PRESS. 

Dr.  W.  E.  Dodd's  elaborate  Life  of  Nathaniel  Macon  will, 
I  am  told,  go  to  press  this  year.  Dr.  Dodd  has  been  engaged 
upon  this  work  for  some  years. 

Mr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood,  Librarian  of  the  Agri- 
cultural and  Mechanical  College,  is  now  reading  the  proof 
of  a  large  book  upon  Governor  William  Tryon  and  his  admin- 
istration in  the  Province  of  North  Carolina,   (1765-1771). 

Dr.  Stephen  B.  Weeks  announces  as  in  preparation  "The 
Life  and  Times  of  Willie  P.  Mangum,  Senator  of  North 
Carolina  and  President  of  the  United  States  Senate." 

Mrs.  W.  P.  McCorkle,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  has  in  press  a 


North  Carolina  Bibliography,  1902.  79 

neat  little  volume  of  North  Carolina  history  Stories  for 
children. 

Major  W.  A.  Graham,  of  Lincoln  county,  is  about  ready 
to  publish  a  biography  of  his  stouthearted  grandfather,  Gen. 
Joseph  Graham,  of  Revolutionary  activity.  This  book  will 
also  include  a  military  study  of  the  Campaigns  of  Western 
North  Carolina. 

Capt.  Robert  Graham  lias  in  press  a  history  of  the  Regu- 
lator movement  and  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. 

1  >r.  J.  13.  Alexander,  of  Charlotte,  announces  that  his  his- 
tory of  Mecklenburg  County  is  now  about  ready  for  distribu- 
tion. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Tompkins  is  also  engaged  upon  a  history  of 
Mecklenburg  County. 

Capt,  S.  A.  Ashe  in  collaboration  with  his  sister,  has  now 
ready  for  publication  a  school  history  of  North  Carolina. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries  is  engaged  upon  a  history  of  the 
Moravian  settlement  at  Savannah. 

Prof.  C.  L.  Raper  writes  me  that  he  now  has  ready  for 
the  Macmillan  press  an  octavo  volume  of  250  pages  upon 
the  subject  "North  Carolina;  a  study  in  English  Colonial 
Government."     1663-1775. 

in.      historical  pamphlets  printed  during  1902: 

The  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Company  printed  Mr.  Thomas 
Pittman's  address  on  Nathaniel  Macon.  This  pamphlet  con- 
tains nineteen  pages. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Tompkins  printed* a  fifty-three  page  pamphlet 
on  the  "Cotton  Gin.  The  history  of  its  Invention."  This 
contains  drawings  and  specifications  of  the  original  gin, 
photographs  of  many  old  documents  connected  with  the  issu- 
ing of  letters  patent  and  the  suits  that  arose  over  the  patents. 
It  is  an  elaborate  study  of  first  hand  material. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries  issued  a  thirty-three  page  historical 
sketch  of  Salem  Female  Academy. 

Mr.  Marshall-  Delancey  Haywood  contributed  an  address 
on  "Col.  Edward  Buncombe."  This  was  delivered  before  the 
North  Carolina  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  was  published 
bv  that  bodv. 


80         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Under  the  title  of  "Old  Brunswick  Pilgrimages,"  the 
Society  of  Colonial  Dames  printed  in  1901  a  beautiful 
pamphlet  containing  four  addresses  delivered  at  the  ruins 
of  St.  Phillips's  church.  These  addresses  are  as  follows: 
"Early  Explorers  of  the  Cape  Fear,"  by  Alfred  Moore 
Waddell;  "Old  Brunswick,"  by  James  Sprunt;  "Defense 
of  Fort  Anderson,"  by  E.  S.  Martin;  "Spencer  Compton, 
Earl  of  Wilmington,"  by  James  Sprunt. 

Now  in  conclusion  a  practical  question :  What  can  we  do 
to  foster  this  new  literature  ?     I  offer  these  two  suggestions : 

First,  buy  and  pay  cash  for  each  worthy  book  written  by 
a  North  Carolinian. 

•Second,  Read  these  books  and  commend  them  to  others. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  VERSE  IN  1902. 


Am-K'.ss   bt   Pro*.    BBNRT   JEROME  8TOCKARD,   ubfobi   the 

THIRD  Annual   Mkkting  of   the  State   Literary  ano 

Historical  Association,  January  23,   1903. 


If  I  may  be  allowed  the  figure,  our  lamented  Theo.  H. 
TTill  was  the  first  singer  to  nest  in  the  wilderness.  From 
the  spring  time  to  the  winter  of  his  age  he  cheered  and 
strengthened  us  with  his  minstrelsy.  There  were  notes 
sounded  before  his,  but  they  were  those  of  migratory  birds, 
[Hissing  the  night,  thrilled  by  the  morning,  and  away.  Then, 
later,  our  beloved  lyrist,  John  Henry  Boner,  joined  him ; 
and,  for  a  long  time,  these  two  were  the  only  distinct  voices 
in  our  State.  But  now  a  veritable  chorus  is  about  us,- and 
the  solitudes  are  vocal  with  music. 

Two  volumes  of  verse  during  a  twelve-month,  with  num- 
erous poems  in  the  State  papers  and,  occasionally,  in  the 
magazines,  signify,  I  hope,  a  new  order  of  things  in  Xorth 
Carolina, — the  opening  of  a  new  era, — the  rising  to  a  life 
on  a  level  above  that  of  mere  materialism.  As  yet  these 
are  only  signs,  hints,  dim  suggestions,  but  it  seems  to  me  they 
are  unmistakable.     To  carry  on  the  figure  there  is 

"in  dark  summer  dawns 
The  earliest  pipe  of  half-awakened  birds.'' 

My  time  will  allow  only  a  word  here  and  there.  "The 
Watchers  of  the  Hearth,"  as  Mr.  Sledd  calls  his  second 
volume,  is  a  distinct  advance  upon  his  first; — an  advance  in 
material  and  in  craft.  Mr.  Sledd  writes  well  in  the  sonnet, 
and  shows  a  decided  liking  for  that  most  difficult  and  most 
exquisite  measure.  "To  Sappho"  is  delivered  in  vigorous 
phrase,  and  observes  well  the  limitations  of  the  form.  "Mj 
Silent  Guest"  is  a  tender  touch,  and  "Isaac"  is  true  to  a 
beloved  past. 

"Songs  from  the  Carolina  Hills,"  by  Miss  Armfield,  is  a 
first  venture,  I  believe,  and  is  a  most  creditable  beginning. 
Her  note  is  instinct  with  life  and  promise.     "Carpe  Diem" 
6 


82         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

lias  some  singing  lines ;  "Satyr's  All"  is  a  thoughtful  sonnet, 
"well  worked  out;  "Freedom"  is  a  triumphant  note.  Did 
my  time  permit,  I  should  have  no  trouble  in  quoting  some 
pleasing  stanzas  from  her  book.  Both  these  volumes  should 
find  appreciation  in  our  State.  Will  not  this  Association 
recommend  that  they  and  other  meritorious  work  by  North 
Carolinians  be  included  among  the  books  purchased  for  our 
rural  libraries  ?  In  what  better  way  could  be  done  the 
double  service  of  encouraging  our  authors  and  of  acquainting 
our  people  with  their  works  ?  A  digression  at  this  point 
seems  to  be  warranted. 

The  ignorance  that  some  of  our  teachers  show  about  the 
meagre  literature  we  have  produced  is  deplorable.  A  little 
while  ago  a  professor  in  one  of  our  colleges,  in  a  lecture  on 
North  Carolina  literature,  delivered  before  the  students  of 
another  institution,  entirely  omitted  the  names  of  Hill  and 
Boner,  in  the  discussion  of  our  poetry,  gravely  criticising  the 
work  of  our  less  known  versifiers.  This  is  Hamlet  with 
Hamlet  left  out.  I  heard  another  professor  in  our  State — 
and  I  use  the  title  each  time  in  its  strict  sense — in  making 
a  translation  of  a  sweet  little  lyric,  labor  with  ox-like  skill 
to  reconcile  its  figurative  to  its  literal  signification.  Is  it 
to  be  expected  that,  as  a  general  thing,  the  students  will  sur- 
pass their  masters  ?  Let  our  institutions  see  to  it  that  only 
men  are  in  charge  of  their  literary  departments  who  are 
themselves  at  least  capable  of  appreciating  aesthetic  things 
and  of  interpreting  them  to  their  classes.  In  this  way  we 
shall  train  up  a  literature-loving  people,  out  of  whose  ranks, 
here  and  there,  will  inevitably  come  literary-producing  men 
and  women. 

There  are  certainly  three  volumes  of  verse  by  North  Caro- 
linians ready  for  publication:  one  by  Mr.  Frank  Armfield, 
a  kinsman  of  the  writer  already  mentioned ;  one  by  Mr.  L. 
C.  VanNoppen ;  the  third  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Boner.  It  has  been 
n  iv  privilege  to  read  these  in  manuscript,  and,  I  believe,  they 
will  prove  a  permanent  addition  to  our  modicum  of  poetry. 
Mr.  Armfield's  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  printer  and  will 
soon  appear.  I  do  not  know  what  steps,  if  any,  have  been 
taken  toward  the  publication  of  Mr.  Van  Noppen's.  Mr. 
Boner's  containing  selections  from  his  first  volume,  "Whis- 
pering Pines,"  together  with  his  later  poems,  is  prepared  in 


North  Carolina  Verse  in  1902.  83 

every  detail  for  the  press.  The  manuscript  includes  only 
what  the  poet  would  have  survive.  It  is  the  work  of  a  lyrist 
of  exquisite  touch.  Mr.  Boner  is,  moreover,  a  critic  and  a 
scholar.  He  has  held  important  positions  in  the  literary 
world,  as  a  member  of  the  editorial  staff  of  the  Century 
Dictionary,  and  of  the  Standard  Dictionary,  rising  to  the 
editorial  chair  of  The  Literary  Digest.  He  has  contributed 
to  the  most  notable  magazines  of  the  country,  and  his  work 
has  added  grace  to  their  pages.  Extreme  ill  health  has  cut 
off  his  bright  career  in  journalism.  Sick  and  dispirited,  he 
is,  nevertheless,  heroically  struggling  at  his  former  post  in 
the  Government's  service  at  Washington.  Boner's  lyrics 
would  be  a  volume  of  which  any  State  might  justly  feel 
proud,  and  would,  therefore,  tend  strongly  to  redeem  us  in 
the  eyes  of  our  sister  States.  South  Carolina  has  given  us 
Hayne  and  Timrod ;  Georgia,  Lanier  and  Stanton ;  Ken- 
tucky, Father  Ryan  and  Prentice ;  Virginia,  Poe  and  Thomp- 
son. These  are  some  of  our  nearest  neighbors:  what  of  our 
own  state  ?  I  believe  Boner's  volume  would  be  a  command- 
ing note  from  North  Carolina,  and  I  wish  that  this  body 
would  devise  some  means  by  which  it  might  be  published. 

I  do  not  know  in  what  shape  Mr.  Hill  left  his  literary 
papers,  nor  what  is  the  outlook  for  their  preservation.  He 
told  me  not  long  before  his  death  that  it  was  his  intention 
to  arrange  his  work  as  he  would  have  it  exist.  His  writings 
should,  by  all  means,  be  collected  and  put  into  permanent 
form.  I  must  seize  this  chance  to  say  that  it  was  one  of  the 
rarest  privileges  of  my  life  to  know  and  commune  with  his 
fine  spirit.  He  lived  right  here  in  Raleigh ;  come  and  went 
among  us  in  his  unobtrusive  way;  but  few  of  us  have  ever 
risen  to  the  serener  atmosphere  which  he  breathed. 

A  most  auspicious  indication  in  this  new  condition  of 
affairs  is  the  number  and  surprising  excellence  of  poems 
from  unsuspected  versifiers.  It  is  true  Mr.  Boner  has  his 
poems  in  the  Century,  but  so  have  Mr.  L.  C.  VanXoppen 
and  Mr.  J.  C.  McNeill.  The  State  papers  have  published 
others  quite  as  good  by  Dr.  McKelway,  Rev.  Mr.  Cade,  Mr. 
Gilliam.  Miss  Dickson,  and  Mrs.  Townsend.  There  are  more 
still  which  escape  me  and  which  are  equally  worthy  of  men- 
tion. Dr.  McKelway 's  "O  Little  Child  of  Bethlehem"  is 
charged  with  sincere  feeling;  Mr.  Cade's  "Tithonus"  reveals 


84         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

a  skill  in  versification  and  a  purity  of  diction  that  augur 
well;  Mr.  Gilliam's  "Capitol  at  Washington"  is  artistic 
handiwork;  Miss  Dickson  writes  frequently  and  always  fer- 
vently ;  and  Mrs.  Townsend  has  given  us  one  sonnet  vitalized 
with  true  feeling.  This  list  is  very  incomplete ;  had  I  known 
a  year  ago  that  this  talk  would  fall  to  me  I  could  have  culled 
from  our  State  press  a  most  satisfactory  showing. 

These  same  papers  that  are  fostering  this  talent  are  work- 
ing upon  advanced  lines.  Poetry  does  not  yield  dollars  and 
cents;  its  dividends  are  men  and  women;  faith,  hope,  glad- 
ness, purity,  consolation,  brotherly -love ;  a  more  liberal  pa- 
triotism and  a  broader  creed ;  a  larger  capacity  for  living  and 
a  brighter  outlook  for  dying.  Poetry  is  the  language  of 
the  imagination,  that  forerunner  of  every  notable  achieve- 
ment in  human  knowledge  and  human  endeavor.  Of  the 
earth,  earthy,  only  a  step  removed  from  the  slug  and  the 
ox,  is  the  man  who  will  admit  that  there  is  nothing  in  this 
world  but  can  be  touched  or  bartered  or  eaten.  The  great 
so-called  captains  of  industry,  whom  men  too  often  deify, 
are  only  camp-followers,  gathering  up  the  treasures  imagi- 
nation has  lavishly  scattered  as  she  goes  on  to  higher  enter- 
prises. To  put  it  in  homely  figure,  they  are  fat  porkers, 
with  eyes  on  the  ground,  following  the  corn-laden  wagon, 
picking  up  the  scattered  grains  and  assimilating  them  into 
lard  and  bacon.  It  is  infinitely  more  profitable  to  write  one 
helpful  line  that  shall  become  the  heritage  of  the  world  than 
to  amass  untold  treasures  only  to  be  scrambled  for  and  ap- 
portioned to  a  few  ungrateful  heirs.  The  one  act  is  a  price- 
less addition  to  the  wealth  of  mankind,  and  increases  at  a 
geometrical  ratio  for  all  time ;  the  other  is  a  gathering  to- 
gether from  the  many  and  a  redistributing  to  the  few. 

If  a  people  would  build  for  permanence  they  must  build 
in  song.  Creeds,  governments,  philosophies  change — only 
the  songs  abide.  Why  ?  Because  they  are  the  voice  of 
Truth  and  Beauty  and  these  are  immortal.  The  finest  sen- 
timents and  the  deepest  emotions  that  stir  the  soul  must  find 
expression  in  poetry — nothing  else  is  adequate  to  their  utter- 
ance. What  gave  distinction  to  the  Periclean,  the  Augustan, 
and  the  Elizabethan  age  ?  The  poets  of  their  times :  the 
names  of  the  sovereigns  are  no  more  than  dates.  Sappho 
and  Pindar  are  still  the  inspiration  of  lyric  poetry;  Homer 


North  Carolina  Verse  in  1902.  85 

and  Aeschylus  of  epic  and  tragic.  Shakespeare,  Milton, 
and  Tennyson  will  remain  unchanged  while  the  English  gov- 
ernment proceeds  in  its  evolution.  Sculpture  and  paint- 
ing are  subject  to  the  accidents  of  time;  poetry  is  as  inde- 
structible as  human  passion:  for  as  long  as  the  heart  shall 
be  moved  by  hope  and  love  and  suffering  it  will  seek  to  ex- 
press itself  in  fatally-chosen  words,  and  this  is  poetry. 

Emerson  says:  "The  high  poetry  which  shall  thrill  and 
agitate  mankind,  restore  youth  and  health,  dissipate  the 
dreams  under  which  men  reel  and  stagger,  and  bring  in  the 
new  thoughts,  the  sanity  and  heroic  aims  of  nations,  is  deep- 
er hid  and  longer  postponed  that  was  America  or  Australia, 
or  the  finding  of  steam  or  of  the  galvanic  battery.  We  must 
not  conclude  against  poetry  from  the  defects  of  the  poets. 
They  are,  in  our  experience,  men  of  every  degree  of  skill, — 
some  of  them  only  once  or  twice  receivers  of  an  inspiration, 
and  presently  falling  back  on  a  low  life.  The  drop  of  ichor 
that  tingles  in  their  veins  has  not  yet  refined  their  blood 
and  cannot  lift  the  whole  man  to  the  digestion  and  function 
of  ichor, — that  is,  to  godlike  nature.  Time  will  be  when 
ichor  will  be  their  blood,  when  what  are  now  glimpses  and 
aspirations  will  be  the  routine  of  the  day.  Yet  even  partial 
ascents  to  poetry  are  forerunners,  and  announce  the  dawn. 
In  the  mire  of  the  sensual  life,  their  religion,  their  poets, 
their  admiration  of  heroes  and  benefactors,  even  their  novel 
and  newspaper,  nay,  their  superstitions  also,  are  hosts  of 
ideals, — a  cordage  of  ropes  that  hold  them  up  out  of  the 
slough.  Poetry  is  inestimable  as  a  lonely  faith,  a  lonely 
protest  in  the  uproar  of  atheism." 

Then  let  us  listen  to  song  with  attentive  ear  and  strive 
to  catch  her  far-heard  strains  that  across  the  obscurity  come 
to  us  now  and  then  on  the  veering  winds;  and  let  us  follow 
her,  with  the  assurance  that,  if  not  now  and  here,  sometime, 
somewhere,  she  will  lead  us  out  into  a  place  of  infinite  glad- 
ness. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  BIBLIOGRAPHY,  1903. 


Address   of  R.  F.    BEASLEY,    Esq.,    before  the  Fourth  Annual 

Meeting  of  the  State  Literary  and  Historical 

Association,  January  23,  1903. 


No  doubt  many  of  the  men  who  are  furnishing  the  country 
with  reading  matter  from  Boston  and  New  York  sought 
those  places  from  poor  and  remote  communities,  like  North 
Carolina.  The  people  of  such  communities  haven't  yet  had 
the  time  to  sow  the  seeds  of  fancy  and  gather  the  harvest  of 
literature;  they  haven't  gotten  far  enough  away  from  the 
bread  and  butter  problem.  Before  the  war  we  had  an  eccles- 
iastical and  a  political  literature  as  a  product  of  the  times; 
since  the  war,  the  great  date  of  recuperation  in  the  South,  we 
have  been  bound  Ixion-like,  to  the  wheel  of  toil.  We  haven't 
yet  been  able  to  give  our  children  a  primary  school  educa- 
tion. The  luxuries  of  life  can  be  thought  of  only  after  the 
necessities  have  been  attended  to.  But  we  are  beginning 
now  to  free  ourselves  from  the  ligaments  that  bind  us  down, 
and  so  we  are  having  more  men  who  write  books,  not  the 
best  books,  to  be  sure,  for  could  they  write  them  they  would 
leave  us,  but  the  quality  must  get  better  as  more  conducive 
conditions  exist. 

Now,  I  would  not  have  any  of  my  remarks  construed  into 
any  discouragement  or  want  of  appreciation  of  any  of  those 
who  are  doing  all  in  their  power  to  give  North  Carolina  a 
creditable  display  in  the  catalogue  of  books.  Every  year 
shows  some  really  creditable  work.  The  present  year  is 
probably  ahead  of  the  last,  and  counting  natives,  both  resi- 
dent and  non-resident,  1903  comes  up  with  a  good  record. 
There  is  the  usual  presence  of  the  historical — much  of  it 
creditable,  all  of  it  valuable  for  future  reference,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  teaching  the  State's  history  to  the  present  gen- 
eration, one  of  the  objects  of  this  society.  In  the  very  short 
time  allotted  me  I  have  not  been  able  to  make  a  complete 
list  of  the  publications  of  the  year,  and  can  therefore  make 
mention  only  of  some-  of  the  most  conspicuous. 

Lawson's  book  of  observations,  called  the  first  history  of 
North  Carolina,  has  been  transcribed  from  the  copy  in  the 


North  Carolina  Bibliography,  1903.  87 

State  Library  by  Col.  F.  A.  Olds,  of  Raleigh,  and  after  being 
published  serially  in  the  Charlotte  Observer,  has  been  issued 
in  durable  and  attractive  form  by  that  paper  and  put  upon 
the  market  at  the  price  of  two  dollars. 

Major  W.  A.  Graham  is  publishing  an  extended  biography 
of  Governor  Joseph  Graham,  and  it  is  sure  to  be  a  very  val- 
uable book. 

The  same  must  be  said  of  Mr.  Haywood's  life  and  times 
of  Gov.  Tryon,  now  on  the  book  store  shelves.  This  work  is 
original  and  is  the  result  of  careful  investigation,  and  in  it 
the  author  has  left  the  blazed  paths,  and  ambitiously  launch- 
ed his  craft  upon  the  sea  of  research. 

Prof.  W.  E.  Dodd,  a  North  Carolinian  of  the  faculty  of 
Randolph-Macon  has  a  life  of  Nathaniel  Macon  ready  for 
the  printer. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Tompkins,  like  the  farmer  in  the  fable,  having 
tried  in  vain  to  get  some  one  else  to  write  the  history  of  Meck- 
lenburg, has  done  it  himself,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  it  is 
well  done.  It  is  very  encouraging  to  see  a  man  immersed, 
as  Mr.  Tompkins  is,  in  large  and  varied  business  enterprises, 
turn  aside  to  write  a  book,  and  one  of  local  history  at  that. 

Mr.  Frank  Nash  has  issued  a  well  prepared  booklet  enti- 
tled "Historic  Hillsboro." 

Judge  Clark  has  issued  a  new  volume  of  the  State  Records. 

Dr.  Edwin  Mims,  of  Trinity  College,  has  been  engaged 
by  the  well  known  publishing  house  of  Houghton,  Mifflin  and 
Company  to  write  a  biography  of  Sidney  Lanier  for  the 
series  of  "American  Men  of  Letters." 

Mr.  Joseph  Alexander  Tillinghast,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  a  graduate  of  Davidson  College,  has  published 
a  book  of  nearly  two  hundred  pages  on  "The  Negro  in  Africa 
and  America,"  which  has  received  very  favorable  comment 
as   a   serious   and   thoughtful   work. 

The  Neale  Publishing  Company  of  Washington,  has  lately 
issued  a  volume  called  "Boner's  Lyrics,"  which  contains  all 
the  best  work  of  the  gifted  North  Carolina  poet,  the  late 
John  Henry  Boner,  whose  death  occurred  this  year. 

Other  poetical  works  of  the  year  are :  "Memorial  Ponns," 
by  Mrs.  E.  M.  Anderson.  "Poems,"  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Bays. 
"Heart  Songs,"  by  Lila  Ripley. 

The  same  average  reader  referred  to  in  the  opening  of  this 


88         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

paper  would  be  astonished  at  the  suggestion  that  a  number  of 
text  books  had  this  year  been  published  by  North  Carolin- 
ians, some  of  which  are  likely  to  pass  into  wide  use.  But 
such  is  the  case.  Dr.  C.  Alphonso  Smith  has  issued  an 
excellent  English  Grammar.     A  book  of  great  importance. 

"Agriculture  for  Beginners,"  prepared  for  the  publishing 
house  of  Ginn  and  Company,  by  Professors  Burkett,  Stevens 
and  Hill,  of  the  State  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College. 
This  book  is  designed  especially  for  use  in  the  public  schools 
and  is  destined,  if  honestly  taken  up  and  thoroughly  taught, 
to  become  a  potent  factor  in  revolutionizing  the  agricultural 
methods  of  the  South,  particularly  North  Carolina.  It  has 
already  been  adopted  for  the  public  schools  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  several  other  States,  and  so  many  as  1,000  copies 
have  been  sent  to  the  Philippines. 

Other  text  books  are :  "Principles  of  Dyeing,"  by  Dr.  Geo. 
S.  Fraps. 

"Foundation  Stones  of  True  Development,"  by  Caroline 
W'ashburn  Rockwood. 

Of  course  no  list  of  books  by  North  Carolinians  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  "The  One  Woman,"  by  Tom 
Dixon.  Dr.  Dixon  belongs  to  North  Carolina  though  he  sees 
fit  to  dwell  apart  from  us  for  a  time.  "The  One  Woman" 
is  a  literary  crudity,  but  it  has  power.  The  Review  of  Re- 
views says  that  "the  story  is  sensational  and  melodramic; 
every  color  in  it  is  flamboyant  and  every  sound  a  scream, 
but  it  is  powerful  with  elemental  force."  It  may  be  added 
also  that  it  sells. 

Other  books  of  varying  character  are  "A  Traitor,  Yet 
True,"  an  historical  romance,  by  S.  H.  Thompson,  now  in 
the  printers  hand ;  "Heaven  on  Earth,"  by  A.  C.  Dixon,  D. 
D. ;  "Studies  in  Christian  Doctrine,"  Wilbur  F.  Tillett, 
D.  D. ;  "Doctrines  and  Polity  of  the  M.  E.  Church,"  W.  F. 
Tillett,  D.  D. ;  "Parsifas,"  by  Mary  Narcissa  McKinnon; 
"An  Adirondac  Romance,"  and  "In  Biscayne  Bay,"  Caroline 
Washburn  Rockwood ;  "Historical  Sketch  of  the  Shuford 
Family,"  by  Rev.  John  Shuford,  and  "Social  Life  in  Co- 
lonial North  Carolina,"  by  C.  L.  Raper,  in  press  of  the  Mc- 
millans. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  BIBLIOGRAPHY,  1904. 


Read  before  tiik  Fifth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  State  Literary 

and  Historical  Association,   Kaleigh,  October  18,  1904, 

by  Prof.  D.  H.   HILL,  West  Raleigh,  N    C. 


"Governor  Tryon  of  North  Carolina,"  by  Marshall  De- 
Lancey  Haywood  of  Raleigh ;  E.  M.  Uzzell,  Raleigh,  pub- 
lishers; pages  225. 

This  is  a  handsomely  illustrated  and  handsomely  printed 
biography  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  Royal  Governors. 
The  author  bases  his  conclusions  largely  upon  documentary 
evidence.  In  addition  to  the  details  of  Gov.  Tryon's  life, 
Mr.  Haywood  includes  a  careful  study  of  the  so-called  War 
of  the  Regulators. 

"Gen.  Joseph  Graham  and  his  Revolutionary  Papers," 
by  Major  William  A.  Graham,  of  Lincoln  county;  Edwards 
&  Broughton,  Raleigh,  printers;  385  pages. 

Part  1  of  Major  Graham's  volumes  is  devoted  to  the  life  of 
General  Graham  and  his  family.  Xew  light  is  thrown  upon 
Queen's  College,  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  and  the  manu- 
facturing of  that  day  by  the  narrative.  Part  2  includes, 
among  others,  papers  furnished  for  Judge  Murphey's  pro- 
jected history  of  North  Carolina.  The  General's  accounts  of 
the  battles  at  Ramsaur's  Mill,  at  King's  Mountain,  at  Cow- 
pens,  at  Cowan's  Ford,  at  Hart's  Mill,  Pyle's  Massacre,  and 
Gen.  Rutherford's  campaign  on  the  Cape  Fear  furnish  much 
valuable  material  for  future  historians. 

"North  Carolina,  A  Study  in  English  Colonial  Govern- 
ment," by  Charles  Lee  Raper,  Acting  Professor  of  Econo- 
mics in  the  University  of  North  Carolina ;  The  MacMillan 
Company,  New  York,  publishers;  268  pages. 

Starting  with  a  review  of  the  proprietary  Period,  Dr. 
Raper  follows  with  chapters  on  the  Governor,  the  Council, 
the  Legislature  under  the  Crown ;  also  chapters  on  the  terri- 
torial, the  judicial,  and  the  fiscal  system  of  the  colony;  on 
the  means  of  defence,  the  conflict  between  the  Executive  and 
the  Lower  House,  and  closes  with  the  downfall  of  the  Royal 
Government. 


90         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

"Nathaniel  Macon,"  by  William  E.  Dodd,  now  Professor 
of  History  in  Randolph-Macon  College,  formerly  of 
Johnston  county;  Edwards  &  Broughton,  printers;  pages 
443. 

Along  with  a  full  account  of  the  illustrious  Macon's  life, 
Dr.  Dodd  has  woven  a  wealth  of  historic  matter  that  has 
been  collected  with  much  care  and  industry  from  many  wide- 
ly scattered  sources. 

"The  Philosophy  of  Education,"  by  Herman  Harrell 
Home,  formerly  of  Johnston  county,  now  professor  in  Dart- 
mouth College;  The  MacMillan  Company,  New  York,  pub- 
lishers; 295  pages. 

In  eight  chapters  Dr.  Home  discusses  first  the  field  of  edu- 
cation, and  then  the  biological,  the  physiological,  the  sociolog- 
ical, and  the  psychological  aspects  of  education. 

"A  Year  in  Europe,"  by  Rev.  Dr.  Walter  W.  Moore,  for- 
merly of  Charlotte,  now  President  of  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  Richmond,  Va. ;  Presbyterian  Committee  of  Pub- 
lication, Richmond;  366  pages. 

Dr.  Moore  has  illustrated  his  volume  handsomely  with 
original  photographs.  His  style  is  fresh  and  vital  and  his 
matter  is  unhackneyed  and  attention-catching. 

"Four  Princes,"  by  Rev.  James  A.  Scherer,  now  living 
in  Charleston,  S.  C.  This  capitally  printed  volume  of  275 
pages  is  from  the  presses  of  the  Lippincotts,  of  Philadelphia. 
The  book  is  a  study  of  Christianity  through  four  of  its  repre- 
sentative heroes,  Paul,  Constantine,  Bernard  and  Luther. 

"China's  Business  Methods  and  Policy,"  by  T.  R.  Jerni- 
gan,  formerly  of  Raleigh,  now  of  Shanghai,  China.  This 
volume  is  from  the  Shanghai  press  of  Kelly  and  Walsh  and  is 
well  printed  and  bound.  If  we  leave  out  books  by  mission- 
aries, this  is  perhaps  the  first  North  Carolina  book  ever 
printed  in  China.  It  is  a  careful  study  of  Chinese  com- 
mercial and  industrial  life. 

"History  of  Mecklenburg  County,"  by  D.  A.  Tompkins, 
of  Charlotte.  The  second  volume  of  Mr.  Tompkins's  elab- 
orate history  of  Mecklenburg  is  just  from  the  Observer  press. 
The  book  is  in  every  way  worthy  of  its  subject.  If  some 
patriotic  citizen  would  do  for  each  of  our  older  counties  what 


North  Carolina  Bibliography  in  1904.  91 

Mr.  Tompkins  has  done  for  his  adopted  county,  our  state 
would  soon  be  rich  in  historic  material. 

"Life  of  Rev.  C.  A.  Rose,"  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  by 
Rev.  Dr.  L.  E.  Busby,  of  Salisbury.  This  is  the  biography 
of  a  friend  and  admirer. 

Mr.  James  W.  Albright  has  published  a  very  complete 
hand-book  of  the  city  of  Greensboro.  Amid  much  local 
history,  this  book  contains  some  material  of  general  interest. 

Carlyle's  "Essay  on  Burns"  has  been  edited  for  the  Gate- 
way Series  of  Classics,  published  by  the  American  Book 
Company,  of  New  York,  by  Prof.  Edwin  Mims,  of  Trinity 
College,  Durham.  Dr.  Mims  has  also  in  press  a  book  of 
selections  from  the  writings  of  Dr.  Henry  Van  Dyke,  and  has 
also  nearly  ready  a  Life  of  Sidney  Lanier. 

"A  Study  of  Quintus  of  Smyrna,"  by  George  Washington 
Paschall,  Associate  Professor  of  Latin  in  Wake  Forest  Col- 
lege. University  of  Chicago  Press.  The  purpose  of  this 
book,  the  author  states,  is  to  give  a  comprehensive  outline  of 
the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  of  the  Posthomerica. 

"Carding  and  Spinning,"  by  George  F.  Ivey,  of  Hickory. 
This  is  a  text  book  meant  for  practical  workers  in  carding 
and  spinning.  Mr.  Ivey  has  previously  written  a  book  upon 
"Loom-fixing  and  Weaving." 

"A  New  Definer,"  by  M.  C.  and  J.  C.  Pinnix,  of  Oxford. 
This  is  also  a  text-book. 

"The  North  Carolina  Booklet,"  under  the  editorship  of 
Miss  Mary  Hilliard  Hinton  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffit  continued 
through  the  year  its  valuable  contributions  to  history.  This 
booklet  ought  to  go  to  every  home  in  North  Carolina. 

"The  James  Sprunt  Monographs  of  History,"  ably  super- 
vised by  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle  of  the  State  University,  are 
first-hand  studies  of  important  events  in  the  history  of  the 
state.  Number  4  of  this  series  has  appeared  during  the 
past  year.  Dr.  Battle  has  contributed  an  introduction  to  this 
number  on  the  Early  History  of  the  Lower  Cape  Eear. 
Number  5  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  binders. 

A  number  of  pamphlets  of  historic  value  have  appeared 
during  the  year,  but  these  do  not  come  within  the  province  of 
this  report. 

In  poetry,  the  most  notable  volume  of  the  year  is  a  new 
edition  of  the  late  John  Henry  Boner's  poems  with  an  intro- 


92         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

duction  by  Henry  Jerome  Stockard.  This  delightful  little 
volume  contains  all  of  Mr.  Boner's  later  poems  as  arranged 
by  himself  just  before  his  death. 

"The  First  Shearing"  is  the  title  of  a  volume  of  poems 
written  by  M.  Battenham  Lindsay,  of  Asheville.  It  is  from 
the  Richmond  press  of  Whittet  and  Shepperson  and  contains 
399  pages. 

"Poems"  is  the  simple  title  of  a  dainty  little  volume  of 
verses  from  the  pen  of  Miss  E.  A.  Lehman,  of  Salem.  This 
is  published  by  the  Grafton  Company  of  New  York. 

Private  Corporations  in  North  Carolina — Thos.  B.  Wo- 
mack,  Raleigh. 

Reprints  of  North  Carolina  Supreme  Court  Reports  with 
annotations  and  cases  cited;  8  vols. — Chief  Justice  Walter 
Clark. 

Manual  of  Odd  Fellows  by  Messrs  Chas.  M.  and  Perrin 
Busbee. 

A  Study  of  the  Atom,  or  the  Foundations  of  Chemistry — 
President  Francis  P.  Venable. 

The  colored  race  is  not  without  representation  among  the 
books  of  the  year.  G.  Ellis  Harris,  of  Littleton,  has  written 
a  "Constitutional  Reader"  with  the  object  of  preparing  the 
men  of  his  race  for  suffrage  by  teaching  them  the  rudiments 
of  our  State  Constitution. 


MOVEMENTS  INAUGURATED 


m  THE 


ASSOCIATION. 


THE  RURAL  SCHOOL  LIBRARY 

ClROVTH  QF  THE   MOVEMENT. 


By  Hon.  J.   Y.  JOYXKli.   SUPBBUfTEHDEHT  op  Public  Instruction. 


The  General  Assembly  of  1901,  acting  upon  the  suggestion 
of  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association  heartily  en- 
dorsed by  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction, 
passed  an  act  appropriating  $5,000.00  for  the  establishment 
of  rural  libraries.  Under  the  provisions  of  this  Act  the 
number  of  libraries  was  limited  to  six  in  any  one  county,  ten 
dollars  was  appropriated  out  of  the  State  treasury  to  any  dis- 
trict upon  notification  that  ten  dollars  had  been  raised  by 
private  subscription  in  the  district  and  ten  dollars  had  been 
appropriated  by  the  County  Board  of  Education  out  of  the 
school  fund  apportioned  to  that  district.  This  first  Act  pro- 
vided for  the  establishment  of  five  hundred  rural  libraries 
in  North  Carolina.  Every  one  of  these  libraries  has  been 
established.  The  General  Assembly  of  1903,  with  practical 
unanimity,  passed  another  act  appropriating  $5,000.00  for 
the  establishment  of  five  hundred  additional  libraries  and 
$2,500.00  for  supplementing  the  libraries  established  under 
the  act  of  1901.  The  provisions  of  this  act  as  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  new  libraries  were  practically  the  same  as  those 
of  the  act  of  1901.  For  the  supplementary  libraries  five 
dollars  was  appropriated  from  the  State  treasury  upon  noti- 
fication that  five  dollars  had  been  raised  by  private  subscrip- 
tion in  the  district  and  five  dollars  had  been  appropriated  by 
the  County  Board  of  Education  out  of  the  school  fund 
apportioned  to  that  district.  Under  this  new  act  280  new 
libraries  have  been  established  and  59  supplementary  libra- 
ries. It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  remaining  220  new 
libraries  and  441  supplementary  libraries  will  be  establish- 
ed before  Jan.  1st,  1905.  There  are  now  then  in  North 
Carolina  780  rural  libraries  established  under  the  acts  ol 
1901  and  1903.  In  addition  to  this  61  libraries  have  been 
established   by   private   subscription   without    aid    from   the 


96         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

State.  There  are  rural  libraries  in  all  counties  of  the  State 
except  two,  Clay  and  McDowell.  The  following  counties 
have  availed  themselves  of  the  twelve  rural  libraries  for 
which  the  State  appropriation  provides:  Alamance,  Alle- 
ghany, Anson,  Beaufort,  Bertie,  Buncombe,  Chatham,  Cum- 
berland, Edgecombe,  Forsyth,  Iredell,  Jackson,  Johnston, 
Mecklenburg,  Northampton,  Orange,  Pitt,  Randolph,  Robe- 
son, Rockingham,  Rowan,  Sampson,  Union,  Vance,  Wake, 
Wayne,  Wilkes,  Wilson.  In  total  number  of  libraries  Wayne 
leads  with  34,  Durham  stands  next  with  28,  and  New  Han- 
over next  to  Durham  with  26.  The  total  number  of  volumes 
in  these  rural  libraries  is  estimated  at  70,000.  The  total 
value  of  them  is  estimated  at  about  $30,000.00.  The  books 
for  these  libraries  must  be  selected  from  a  list  approved  by 
the  State  Superintendent.  A  pamphlet  containing  a  care- 
fully prepared  classified  list  of  books,  the  library  law,  and 
the  rules  and  regulations  for  the  management  of  the  libraries 
has  been  issued  from  the  office  of  the  State  Superintendent 
and  will  be  furnished  to  any  person  upon  application. 

A  neat,  carefully  prepared  record  book  is  furnished  to 
each  library  and  annual  reports  are  required  from  each. 
These  reports  are  encouraging.  They  show  among  other 
things  a  steady  increase  in  the  use  of  the  books,  in  the  de- 
mand for  them,  and,  in  many  instances,  an  increase  of  attend- 
ance and  an  increase  of  interest  in  the  school  through  the 
use  of  the  library.  On  account  of  the  interest  in  the  library, 
arrangements  are  made  for  the  use  of  most  of  the  libraries 
during  vacation  as  well  as  during  the  session  of  the  schools 
so  that  the  books  are  quietly  at  work  in  the  community  twelve 
months  in  the  year.  These  books  have  gone  into  many  a 
bookless  home  and  brought  joy  and  light  and  inspiration  to 
many  a  parent  and  elder  brother  and  sister.  I  can  think  of 
no  more  effective  means  of  stimulating  a  taste  for  good  read- 
ing among  all  our  people,  old  and  young,  than  by  sending 
into  their  homes  through  the  children,  by  the  blessed  instru- 
mentality of  these  rural  libraries,  these  great  masterpieces  of 
the  master  minds  and  souls  of  the  world.  I  believe  that  the 
General  Assembly  will  see  the  wisdom  of  continuing  a  reas- 
onable appropriation  for  the  establishment  of  rural  libraries 
until  every  rural  school  in  North  Carolina  shall  enjoy  the 


The  Rural  School  Library.  97 

inestimable  benefit  of  at  least  a  small  but  well  selected  col- 
lection of  good  books. 

One  important  aim  of  all  true  education  is  to  cultivate 
along  with  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  and  the  love  of  it 
the  reading  habit  and  the  love  of  good  books.  No  educa- 
tional equipment  is  complete,  therefore,  without  a  library. 
A  library  of  well  selected  books,  even  though  limited  in  num- 
ber, will  increase  greatly  the  efficiency  of  the  work  of  any 
school,  will  be  a  breath  of  fresh  air,  a  gleam  of  glorious  light 
in  any  community,  will  quicken  ambitions,  arouse  aspira- 
tions and  set  in  motion  forces  the  power  of  which  no  man  can 
estimate. 


THE  RURAL   SCHOOL  LIBRARY 
As  an  Educational  Factor. 


By  CLARENCE  H.  POE,  Kaleigh,  N.  C. 


[Republished  from  the  "American  Monthly  Review  of  Reviews"  for  Septem- 
ber, 1904.    By  permission  of  Review  of  Reviews  Company.] 


Just  now,  when  the  princely  donations  of  Mr.  Andrew 
Carnegie  have  given  a  new  stimulus  to  library  building  in 
American  cities,  it  may  be  well  to  turn  our  eyes  to  the  "other 
half" — the  rural  half — of  our  population,  for  although,  until 
quite  recently,  no  one  thought  of  the  public  library  as  a  pos- 
sible rural  institution,  it  has  now  made  an  auspicious  entry 
into  this  new  field,  and  is  destined  to  play  an  important  part 
among  the  twentieth  century  forces — rural  mail  delivery, 
good  roads,  rural  telephones,  etc. — that  make  for  the  uplift 
of  American  country  life. 

The  need  of  the  rural  library  must  be  apparent  to  all  that 
are  familiar  with  country  school  methods.  Reading  is  the 
magic  key  to  all  our  store-houses  of  intellectual  wealth ;  it  is 
the  basis  of  all  education.  "The  true  university  of  these 
days,"  says  Carlyle,  "is  a  collection  of  books."  And  it  is  here, 
of  all  points  in  its  curriculum,  that  the  country  school  has 
failed  most  grievously:  it  has  not  taught  the  children  to 
read,  to  use  books.  Do  not  understand  me  to  charge  that  the 
rural  school  is  literally  and  avowedly  disloyal  to  the  first  of 
the  immortal  three  R's,  for  it  is  not.  But  only  in  the  nar- 
rowest sense  does  it  teach  reading — reading  as  the  mere  pro- 
nunciation of  words  and  the  observance  of  punctuation 
marks;  the  unlovely,  mechanical  side  of  reading.  The 
brighter  side  of  reading  the  country  pupil  does  not  get ;  the 
city  pupil  does.  Aided  by  the  prescribed  supplemental  liter- 
ature, and  guided  by  the  teacher,  the  child  of  the  townsman 
learns  to  find  joy  in  reading,  learns  not  only  how  to  read, 
but  actually  learns  to  read,  to  use  books.  If  you  know  the 
country  school  as  the  writer  does,  you  know  the  other  side 
of  this  picture.    You  know  children  who  live  out  a  long  school 


The  Library  as  an  Educational  Factor.         99 

career  without  learning  anything  of  literature  beyond  tho 
monotonous  rehearsal  of  dry  text  book  matter.  Cold,  hard 
facts  about  the  boundaries  of  foreign  states,  the  dates  of 
ancient  battles,  the  rules  of  the  stock  exchange,  are  regarded 
as  matters  of  importance,  but  the  teacher  does  not  see  that  it 
is  better  to  foster  a  love  of  reading  than  to  teach  history  or 
geography.  Or  if  he  sees  the  duty,  and  longs  to  direct  the 
child  to  the  beauties  of  literature,  he  is  shackled  by  the  lack 
of  facilities  for  such  work.  Year  after  year,  there  is  the  same 
old  drill  in  the  same  old  readers,  no  classics  are  studied,  and 
there  is  no  supplemental  reading  to  give  the  spice  of  variety. 

It  is  inevitable  that  children  reared  in  such  schools  come  to 
regard  reading  not  as  a  luxury  but  as  a  drudgery,  and  grow 
up  potentially,  if  not  in  the  strictest  sense,  illiterate.  "I 
confess,"  says  Thoreau,  somewhere  in  his  "Walden,"  "that  I 
do  not  make  any  broad  distinction  between  the  illiterateness 
of  my  townsman  who  cannot  read  at  all  and  the  illiterateness 
of ,  him  who  has  learned  only  to  read  what  is  for  children  and 
feeble  intellects."  How  much  narrower,  then,  should  be  the 
distinction  between  the  "illiterateness  of  him  who  can  uot 
read  at  all"  and  the  illiterateness  of  him  whose  training  his 
been  such  that  he  regards  reading  only  as  a  task  to  be  shun- 
ned !  People  everywhere  are  now  beginning  to  see  the  mis- 
take pointed  out,  ten  years  ago,  by  President  Eliot  in  his 
essay,  "Wherein  Popular  Education  Has  Failed."     He  says: 

"We  have  heretofore  put  too  much  confidence  in  the  mere 
acquisition  of  the  arts  of  reading  and  writing.  After  these 
arts  are  acquired,  there  is  much  to  be  done  to  make  them 
effective  for  the  development  of  the  child's  intelligence.  If 
his  reasoning  power  is  to  be  developed  through  reading,  he 
must  be  guided  to  the  right  sort  of  reading.  The  school  must 
teach  not  only  how  to  read,  but  what  to  read,  and  it  must  de- 
velop a  taste  for  wholesome  reading." 

It  is  to  remedy  just  this  defect  that  the  rural  school  library 
has  been  introduced  into  twenty-nine  American  States.  And 
though  widely  varying  plans  have  been  adopted,  in  no  other 
State,  I  dare  say,  has  more  rapid  progress  been  made  or 
greater  results  accomplished  in  proportion  to  capital  ex- 
pended than  in  North  Carolina.  For  this  reason  I  may  be  par- 
doned for  referring  at  some  length  to  this  North  Carolina 
plan  which  seems  to  be  the  one  best  adapted  to  States  having 


100       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

a  large  rural  population  and  a  small  revenue.  The  law  as 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1901  provides,  in  sub- 
stance— 

That  wherever  the  friends  or  patrons  of  any  rural  public 
school  contribute  $10  or  more  for  starting  a  library  in  connec- 
tion with  the  school,  $10  of  the  district  school  fund  shall  also 
be  set  apart  for  the  same  purpose,  while  another  $10  will  be 
given  from  the  State  appropriation — thus  insuring  at  the  out- 
set at  least  $30  for  each  school  library;  in  many  cases,  of 
course,  the  patrons  contribute  more  than  the  minimum  sum, 
$10,  needed  to  secure  the  $20  from  other  sources.  The  coun- 
ty board  of  education  then  names  some  competent  person  to 
manage  the  prospective  library  and  buy  the  books  for  it,  these 
to  be  chosen  from  a  remarkably  well  selected  list  of  standard 
works  recently  prepared  by  a  committee  of  distinguished 
educators.  The  same  committee,  by  the  way,  obtained  com- 
petitive bids  from  prominent  publishing  houses,  thus  forcing 
prices  to  strikingly  low  figures,  even  for  classics.  The  small- 
est libraries  have  seventy-five  or  eighty  neat  and  substan- 
tially bound  volumes. 

By  the  earnest  efforts  of  the  North  Carolina  Literary  and 
Historical  Association,  an  appropriation  of  five  thousand 
dollars  was  obtained  for  the  payment  of  the  State's  part  on 
the  experimental  plan  just  outlined,  and  in  September,  1901, 
the  appropriation  became  available,  and  the  first  North  Car- 
olina rural  school  library  was  established.  The  entire  sum 
would  have  been  speedily  exhausted  by  the  more  progressive 
section  had  nT)t  the  Legislature  provided  that  State  aid  should 
be  available  for  not  more  than  six  school  districts  in  any  one 
of  the  ninety-seven  counties.  Within  five  months,  a  third  of 
the  counties  reached  this  limit,  and  applications  from  other 
communities  within  their  borders  had  to  be  rejected.  Before 
the  General  Assembly  of  1903  met,  in  January,  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-one  of  a  possible  five  hundred  libraries  had 
been  helped.  In  the  face  of  such  success  there  was  nothing 
for  the  legislature  to  do  but  make  an  appropriation  of  five 
thousand  dollars  more  for  the  ensuing  two  years,  while  twen- 
ty-five hundred  dollars  was  added  to  maintain  and  enlarge 
the  libraries  already  established,  the  same  Carnegie-like  prin- 
ciple of  co-operation  to  be  observed :  each  gift  from  the  State 


The  Library  as  an  Educational  Factor.       101 

to  be  duplicated  by  an  appropriation  from  the  school  fund, 
and  again  duplicated  by  private  subscription. 

Already  many  applications  for  aid  from  the  new  appropri- 
ation have  been  received,  and  Superintendent  Joyner  con- 
fidently predicts  that  before  the  next  Legislature  meets  North 
Carolina  will  have  one  thousand  State  aided  rural  school  li- 
braries. Then  there  are  others,  established  entirely  by  pri- 
vate gifts.  In  one  county  (Durham)  adjoining  that  in 
which  the  writer  lives,  a  wealthy  citizen  continued  the  good 
work  begun  by  the  State.  He  offered  to  duplicate  amounts 
raised  after  the  State  aid  limit  had  been  reached,  and  now 
every  one  of  the  forty  white  schools  in  the  county  has  a 
library. 

One  other  fact  deserves  mention.  Not  only  does  the  rural 
school  library  develop  the  reading  habit, — it  develops  it  along 
right  lines.  Since  as  Emerson  says,  "the  ancestor  of  every 
action  is  a  thought,"  how  important  it  is  that  the  literature 
that  is  to  provoke  thought  be  wholesome  and  well  balanced! 
In  our  city  libraries,  fiction  has  much  too  large  a  place,  many 
women  and  young  people  read  nothing  else.  But  while  these 
rural  libraries  contain  a  few  novels  the  chief  effort  is  to  de- 
velop a  proper  appreciation  of  choice  works  of  science,  travel, 
nature  study,  poetry,  history,  biography  and  mythology. 
Even  if  the  child  formed  the  "reading  habit"  outside  the 
school,  it  would  still  be  worth  while  for  the  State  to  have 
these  libraries  for  the  sole  purpose  of  turning  his  new  found 
love  of  literature  into  right  channels  of  truth  and  beauty. 

Nor  have  the  boys  and  girls  been  the  only  beneficiaries  of 
the -new  movement.  It  has  opened  up  a  new  world  for  many 
of  the  parents,  and  has  done  incalculable  good  in  continuing 
the  education  of  persons  too  old  or  too  poor  to  longer  attend 
school.  The  superintendent  of  schools  for  Durham  County 
says  that  the  books  are  used  almost  as  much  by  the  parents  as 
by  the  children  themselves,  and  the  Pitt  County  superinten- 
dent says  that  the  libraries  have  caused  hitherto  indifferent 
parents  to  become  deeply  interested  in  reading  and  in  the  edu- 
cation of  their  children.  "The  peculiar  value  of  the  school 
library,"  as  the  New  York  Evening  Post  rightly  observes, 
"lies  in  the  fact  that  it  educates  the  younger  generation  as 
well  as  the  older." 


102     Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

All  in  all,  the  North  Carolina  plan  has  proved  a  strikingly 
successful  innovation,  and  we  are  moved  to  wonder  that  our 
educational  leaders  did  not  long  ago  perceive  the  value  of 
rural  library  work,  or,  realizing  it,  did  not  think  of  the  ease 
with  which  it  may  be  conducted  in  connection  with  the  public 
school.  We  are  not  far  from  the  time  when  no  house  where 
children  meet  for  study,  whether  in  town  or  country,  will  be 
regarded  as  even  tolerably  equipped  without  a  small  collec- 
tion of  the  best  books. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  DAY"  IM  THE 
PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 


By  HON    FRANCIS  D.  WINSTON,  Windsor,  N.  C., 
Author  of  the  Statute. 


At  the  instance  of  the  North  Carolina  Literary  and  His- 
torical Association,  an  act  of  our  General  Assembly  was 
passed  designating  October  12th  as  North  Carolina  Day  in, 
the  Public  Schools.  This  law  provides  "That  the  12th  day 
of  October  in  each  and  every  year,  to  be  called  'North  Caro- 
lina Day/  may  be  devoted,  by  appropriate  exercises  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  State,  to  the  consideration  of  some  topic 
or  topics  of  our  State  history,  to  be  selected  by  the  State  Su- 
perintendent of  Public  Instruction:  Provided,  that  if  the 
said  day  shall  fall  on  Saturday  or  Sunday,  then  the  celebra- 
tion shall  occur  on  the  Monday  next  following:  Provided, 
further,  that  if  the  said  day  shall  fall  at  a  time  when  any 
such  school  may  not  be  in  session,  the  celebration  may  be 
held  within  one  month  from  the  beginning  of  the  term,  unless 
the.  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  shall  designate 
some    other   time." 

The  consecration  of  one  day  in  the  year  to  the  considera- 
tion in  the  Public  Schools  of  the  history  of  the  State  is  a 
beautiful  idea.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  public  school  teacher 
in  North  Carolina  to  obey  the  letter  of  this  law,  and  it  is  grat- 
ifying to  know  that  the  schools  over  the  State  are  availing 
themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  fill  the  children  with  pride 
in  their  state,  to  thrill  them  with  enthusiasm  for  the  study 
of  her  history,  and  to  kindle  new  fires  of  patriotic  love. 

As  an  evidence  that  North  Carolina  Day  is  an  important 
event  in  our  educational  work,  20,000  copies  of  the  program 
for  last  year  were  distributed  and  the  official  reports  show 
that  more  than  3,000  schools  observed  the  day  with  the  official 
program. 

The  State  Superintendent  gives  this  celebration  much 
prominence.  The  material  for  these  celebrations  has  been 
carefully  selected  ;  the  programs  have  been  neatly  printed — in 


104       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

pamphlets  of  about  fifty  pages  each.  In  this  work  he  has 
received  the  efficient  assistance  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revo- 
lution, the  North  Carolina  Literary  and  Historical  Associa- 
tion and  patriotic  citizens  of  the  State  interested  in  preserv- 
ing her  history. 

The  subject  selected  in  1901  was  "The  First  Anglo-Saxon 
Settlement  in  America."  Following  the  chronological  order 
of  the  State's  History,  the  subject  for  1902  was  fittingly 
"The  Albemarle  Section"  and  the  subject  for  1903  was  "The 
Lower  Cape  Fear  Section."  In  succeeding  years  the  history 
*  of  other  sections  of  the  State  will  be  studied  somewhat  in  the 
order  of  their  settlement  and  development,  until  the  entire 
period  of  the  State's  history  shall  have  been  covered. 

The  program  for  each  year  that  has  celebrated  North  Caro- 
lina Day  is  given  below: 

PROGRAM  FOR  1901— NORTH  CAROLINA  DAY. 


Subject:    First  Anglo-Saxon  Settlement  in  America. 


PROGRAM  OF  EXERCISES. 

1.  Song— Our  Fathers'  God,  to  Thee. 

2.  Reading — Sketch  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  the  Father  of  Anglo-Saxon 

Colonization  in  America. 

3.  Declamation — Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  Virginia  Dare — By  Jos.  W. 

Holden.  * 

4.  Reading — Sketch  of  the  Landing — From  Hawks'  History. 

5.  Song— "Ho!  for  Carolina"— W.  B.  Harrell. 

6.  Sketch  of  the  Settlement  of  Roanoke  Island — By  Graham  Daves. 

From  N.  C  Booklet. 

7.  Recitation  or  (Reading) — 

(a)  The  Mystery  of  Croatan — By  Margaret  J.  Preston. 

(b)  Roanoke  Island — By  Fred.  A.  Olds. 

8.  Address  by  Local  Orator. 

9.  Recitation— Poem,   " My  Native  State"— By  H.  J.  Stockard 

10.  General  Discussion — Topics: 

(a)  Are  the  Croatan  Indians  the  Lost  Colony? 

{b)  Why  Did  the  Attempt  to  Colonize  North  Carolina  Fail? 

11.  Song— In  conclusion — ''The  Old  North  State" — By  Gaston. 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh — By  Henry  Jerome  Stockard. 


North  Carolina  Day  in  the  Schools.  105 

PROGRAM  FOR  1902— NORTH  CAROLINA  DAY. 


Subject:    The  Albemarle  Section. 


PROGRAM  OF  EXERCISES. 

1.  Song— The  Old  North  State— William  Gaston. 

2.  Reading — The  First  Governor.  William  Drummond.     Adapted  from 

Wiley's  North  Carolina  Reader  and  Weeks'  Sketch  of  Drummond. 

3.  Questions  and  Answers  for  Children — By  Committee  of  State  Literary 

and  Historical  Association. 

4.  Reading — Roanoke  Island  of  To-Day— Charles  E.  Taylor. 

5.  Reading — Albemarle  .Monuments — R.  B  Creecy. 

6.  Reading — Edenton — W.  E.  Stone. 

7.  Song — America. 

8.  Reading— Hertford— W.  F.  McMullan. 

9.  Reading — A  Distinguished  Citizen  of  the  Albemarle  Section.  Adapted 

from  Address  by  Junius  Davis. 

10.  Declamation — Extract  from  the  Memorial  to  Congress  concerning  the 

Celebration  of  the  Settlement  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  Colonies  on 
Roanoke  Island — George  T.  Winston,  for  Committee. 

11.  Reading — Cape  Hatteras  and  the  Banks. 

12.  Hatteras  and  the  Hankers — R.  B.  Creecy. 

13.  Stories  of  the  Banks — Jennie  Langston. 

14.  Declamation— Hatteras— Joseph  W.  Holden. 

15.  Selected  Hvmn. 


PROGRAM  FOR  1903— NORTH  CAROLINA  DAY. 


Subject  :  The  Lower  Cape  Fear  Section. 


PROGRAM  OF  EXERCISES. 

Prayer. 

1.  Song— The  Old  North  State— William  Gaston. 

2.  Reading— The  Early  Explorers  and  Settlers  of  the  Cape  Fear — A.  M. 

Waddell. 

3.  Declamation — The  Pride  of  the  Cape  Fear— George  Davis. 

4.  Reading— Life  Among  the  Early  Cape  Fear  Settlers— John  Brickell. 

5.  Recitation — The  American  Eagle — Henry  Jerome  Stockard. 

6.  Reading—Mary  Slocum's  Hide— Adapted  from  Mrs.  Ellet. 

7.  Recitation — Moonlight  in  the  Pines — John  Henry  Boner. 

8.  Reading — Heception  of  the  Stamps  on  the  Cape  Fear — George  Davis. 

9.  Recitation — Light'ood  Fire— John  Henry  Boner. 

10.  Declamation — The  Men  of  the  Cape  Fear — George  Davis. 


106       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

11.  Eeading — Rescue  of  Madame  DeRos.set — James  Sprunt. 

12.  Recitation — Alamance — S.  W.  Whiting. 

13.  Reading — Blockading  off  the  Cape  Fear — James  Sprunt. 

14.  Recitation — Regret— Christian  Reid  (Mrs.  F.  C.  Tiernan). 

15.  Resources  of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear.     Adapted  from  "  North  Carolina 

and  Its  Resources,"  published  by  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

16.  Questions  and  Answers. 

17.  Song— My  Country,  'Tis  of  Thee. 
Appendix. 

Teachers  are  urged  to  make  a  special  effort  to  secure  a 
larger  attendance  of  the  patrons  of  the  district  on  these  occa- 
sions. This  should  be  the  educational  rallying  day.  The 
women  interested  in  better  school  houses  should  be  given  a 
place  on  the  program. 

On  the  22nd  day  of  August,  1901,  the  Windsor  Ledger  in 
urging  a  proper  celebration  of  this  day  said  editorially : 

"We  refer  our  public  school  teachers  to  Chapter  164,  Laws 
1901,  for  the  act  providing  for  the  celebration  of  North  Caro- 
lina day  in  the  public  schools.  The  act  was  introduced  by 
the  representative  from  this  county.  It  provides  that  Octo- 
ber 12  of  each  year  be  devoted  to  considering  topics  of  our 
State  history,  to  be  selected  by  our  State  Superintendent.  The 
date  is  a  memorable  one.  America  was  discovered  on  that 
date.  It  is  also  ftie  day  of  the  founding  of  the  University — 
the  very  capstone  of  our  public  school  system.  The  day 
should  be  made  very  interesting  in  our  schools.  All  of 
the  patrons  of  the  school  should  be  present.  It  should  be  a 
pic-nic  occasion  with  public  dinner.  The  children  should  be 
given  tasks  on  Bertie  county  history.  We  suggest  the  follow- 
ing arrangement  for  a  day's  entertainment  and  profit: 

1.  Have  two  scholars  write  a  short  sketch  of  the  county. 

2.  Have  one  scholar  write  a  history  of  the  founding  of  the 
public  school  in  that  district,  giving  date,  names  of  all  com- 
mitteemen, names  of  all  teachers  and  of  those  in  the  vicinity 
interested  in  school  work. 

3.  Have  one  scholar  give  the  number  of  miles  of  public 
road  in  the  township  in  which  the  school  is  situated  and  the 
distance  and  direction  of  the  school  from  the  important  places 
in  the  county. 

4.  Have  one  scholar  give  the  names  of  all  rivers,  creeks, 


North  Carolina  Day  in  the  Schools.  107 

swamps,  bridges  and  other  natural  objects  in  the  township 
including  places  of  note,  residences  and  families. 

5.  Have  one  scholar  give  the  names  and  number  of 
churches,  when  organized,  and  the  names  of  pastors,  clerks 
and  officials,  past  and  present. 

6.  Have  one  scholar  give  the  names  of  all  Confederate 
Veterans  in  the  township,  with  the  Company  and  Regiment 
in  which  they  served  and  any  special  acts  of  daring  and 
bravery  they  performed. 

7.  Have  one  scholar  give  any  local  incidents  and  tradi- 
tions. 

These  matters  occur  to  us  now.  Our  teachers  can  easily 
enlarge  the  scope  of  the  work.  In  ten  years  with  the  work 
carried  out  on  this  plan  we  will  have  the  best  county  history 
ever  written  of  any  locality." — Windsor  Ledger,  Aug.  22, 
1901. 

I  suggest  that  the  future  programs  be  cast  on  more  local 
lines.  Organization  for  this  work  must  be  had  and  the  unit 
of  organization  should  be  each  district.  The  County  Super- 
intendents will  be  the  collectors  for  each  county  and  a  few 
years  would  place  much  valuable  material  in  their  hands  for 
the  future  historian.  No  matter  how  the  day  is  celebrated 
it  cannot  fail  to  produce  the  best  historical  results. 


STATE  HISTORICAL  COMttlSSION. 


By  R.  D.  W.  CONNOR,  Secretary  of  the  Commission. 


The  creation  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1903  of  the 
North  Carolina  Historical  Commission  is  by  no  means  the 
least  important  work  of  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  As- 
sociation. We  are  realizing  more  and  more  every  day  in 
North  Carolina  that  it  is  dangerous  to  trust  the  future  in  the 
hands  of  a  people  who  are  ignorant  of  their  past ;  and  that  no 
people  who  are  indifferent  to  their  past  need  hope  to  make 
their  future  great.  One  of  the  missions  of  the  State  Liter- 
ary and  Historical  Asociation  is  to  teach  this  lesson  to  the 
people  of  North  Carolina.  But  the  lesson  when  learned  will 
be  valueless  unless  steps  are  taken  at  the  same  time  to  pre- 
serve the  material  from  which  that  past  is  to  be  made  intel- 
ligible to  the  present  and  to  the  future.  Realizing  this,  the 
Literary  and  Historical  Association,  along  with  all  patriotic 
citizens  of  the  state,  views  with  deep  regret  the  loss  of  hun- 
dreds of  invaluable  historical  documents  and  records  which 
would  throw  much  needed  light  on  our  history.  Many  hun- 
dreds of  them  have  been  lost  or  destroyed  through  the  indiff- 
erence of  the  state  and  the  ignorance  and  carelessness  of  their 
possessors.  These  are  hopelessly  gone,  but  there  are  still  in 
existence,  stuffed  away  in  dark  corners  and  dusty  archives, 
many  such  documents  and  records  that  should  be  brought  to 
light.  To  accomplish  this  important  work  a  committee  of 
the  association  appeared  before  the  General  Assembly  of 
1903  and  urged  the  creation  of  an  historical  commission. 
An  act  was  passed  creating  a  commission  of  five  members,  to 
be  appointed  by  the  governor  to  collect  and  publish  valuable 
documents  elucidating  the  history  of  the  state.  The  sum  of 
$500  annually  is  appropriated  to  enable  the  commission  to 
have  the  desired  documents  collected  and  transcribed,  which 
are  then  to  be  issued  by  the  state  printer  as  public  docu- 
ments. 

The  personnel  of  the  commission  as  appointed  by  Gov- 


The  Historical  Commission.  109 

ernor  Aycock  is  as  follows:  Mr.  \Y.  J.  Peele,  of  Raleigh; 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Hufham,  of  Henderson;  Dr.  Richard  Dillard, 
of  Edenton ;  Mr.  F.  A.  Sondley,  of  Asheville,  and  Mr.  R.  D. 
\Y.  Connor,  of  Raleigh.  Various  obstacles  prevented  the 
meeting  of  the  commission  until  in  November  of  1903. 
On  the  20th  of  November  a  quorum  met  at  Warsaw,  and 
organized  for  work  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Peele  as  chairman, 
and   Mr.  Connor  as  secretary. 

Such  work  as  the  commission  is  to  do  will  require,  of 
course,  great  care  and  time.  As  yet,  therefore,  but  little 
more  than  a  good  beginning  has  been  made.  In  addition  to 
the  present  volume,  the  commission  has  had  made  and  placed 
in  the  Hall  of  History  in  the  State  Museum  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Col.  Fred  A.  Olds,  of  Raleigh,  handsome  photographs 
of  DeBry's  rare  and  valuable  engravings  illustrative  of  early 
Indian  life  in  North  Carolina.  These  pictures  are  perhaps 
the  most  nearly  perfect  illustrations  of  Indian  life  before 
the  white  man  colonized  the  continent  in  existence,  and  can 
be  utilized  to  great  advantage  by  students  of  our  early  his- 
tory. Arrangements  have  also  been  perfected  for  reprinting 
the  narratives  of  Barlowe,  Lane  and  Hariot  of  the  early  dis- 
coveries and  settlements  on  the  North  Carolina  coast,  and 
these  reprints  will  be  illustrated  with  the  DeBry  pictures. 
In  addition  to  these  there  will  soon  be  issued  a  reprint  of  the 
"Proceeding  and  Debates  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1788"  together  with  the  "Journals  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention of  1789."  This  work  has  been  prepared  under  the 
direction  of  Prof.  E.  P.  Moses,  of  Raleigh.  Under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  Richard  Dillard,  of  Edenton,  the  commis- 
sion has  had  copied  and  prepared  for  the  printer  the  early 
records  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  of  Chowan,  in  which  is  found 
much  valuable  information  of  the  early  history  of  the  Albe- 
marle settlement.  Finally  at  the  request  of  the  committee  of 
the  State  Literary  and  Historical  Association  appointed  to 
reply  to  the  statements  of  Judge  Christian,  of  Virginia,  in 
regard  to  North  Carolina's  part  in  the  War  Between  the 
States,  the  commission  paid  the  expenses  of  two  men  to  visit 
the  battle-field  of  Appomattox  for  the  purpose  of  gathering 
information.  A  copy  of  the  committee's  report  appears  in 
this  volume. 


110       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

The  importance  of  such  work  as  the  commission  is  ex- 
pected to  do  is  equalled  only  by  the  difficulties  in  the  way. 
Stowed  away  in  pigeon  holes,  vaults,  desks  and  boxes,  all  over 
North  Carolina  are  many  documents,  records,  private  and 
public  letters  and  manuscripts  which  as  matters  now  stand 
are  of  absolutely  no  value  to  their  possessors  or  to  the  people 
of  the  state ;  but  if  they  can  be  carefully  and  properly  collect- 
ed, edited  and  published,  they  will  be  of  incalculable  value 
in  throwing  light  on  our  history.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  His- 
torical Commission  to  do  this  work.  All  patriotic  citizens 
will  aid  in  it.  Those  who  possess  such  documents,  or  know 
of  their  whereabouts  will  render  a  service  to  the  state  by 
placing  them,  or  copies  of  them  in  the  possession  of  the  com- 
mission. All  originals  or  copies  of  valuable  documents,  church 
and  court  records,  manuscripts,  letters,  maps,  portraits,  and 
old  newspapers,  or  of  any  other  material  of  historical  value, 
will  be  greatly  appreciated  by  the  commission  and  a  safe 
repository  will  be  provided  for  their  preservation.  All  such 
material  as  cannot  be  parted  with  permanently  will  be  return- 
ed after  copies  have  been  made ;  and  provision  is  made  for 
copying  those  which  their  owners  are  unwilling  to  part  with 
at  all.  All  expenses  connected  with  such  work  will  be  met 
by  the  commission.  Such  material  after  being  carefully 
edited  will  be  published  and  due  acknowledgment  will  be 
made  to  all  those  who  have  aided  in  this  patriotic  work.  Let 
not  those  who  have  such  material  stored  away  hoard  it 
as  the  miser  does  his  gold. 

The  history  of  our  state,  as  noble  and  as  full  of  inspiring- 
lives  as  it  is,  can  never  be  written  until  this  work  is  done.  But 
it  is  a  work  that  cannot  be  accomplished  unless  the  commission 
meets  with  the  earnest  support  of  patriotic  citizens  who  have 
the  documents,  or  information  of  the  documents  which  are 
desired.  It  is  a  work  that  cannot  be  accomplished  in  a  year 
nor  in  two  years,  but  is  rather  the  work  of  a  life  time ;  and  it 
is  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  no  cessation  will  be  permitted 
until  all  the  work  is  done  and  thoroughly  done.  Need  one 
urge  upon  intelligent  men  and  women  the  necessity  for  this 
work  ?  We  need  not  be  surprised,  as  long  as  we  neglect  these 
duties,  if  the  "scorner  shall  sneer  at  and  the  witling  de- 
fame us." 


THE  STATE'S  HISTORICAL  MUSEUM. 


I.v  F.  A.  OLDS,  Esq.,    Kalkioh,    N.  C., 
Chairman  of  tiik  Committee  ON  Historical  IfUBXUM. 


It  is  difficult  to  give  a  condensed  account  of  the  first  year's 
work  in  the  collection  of  objects  in  the  Hall  of  History  in  the 
State  Museum,  so  numerous  and  so  varied  is  the  collection 
and  so  great  the  progress  made  in  forming  it.  The  grouping 
is  as  far  as  possible  by  periods  in  the  State's  history.  Begin- 
ning with  relics  of  the  Indians,  the  collection  follows  the  var- 
ious periods.  The  people  of  the  state  have  been  liberal  in 
the  way  of  gifts  and  loans.  Out  of  the  thousands  of  articles 
only  a  few  can  be  referred  to  as  most  notable.  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet DevereiiXj  of  Raleigh,  lends  the  valuable  documents  of 
Governor  Thomas  Pollock,  including  grants  by  him,  Gover- 
nors Eden  and  Everard  and  others,  and  the  treaty  between  the 
whites  and  the  Tuscarora  Indians.  In  the  same  section  are 
ballast  from  the  vessels  of  Amidas  and  Barlowe  at  Roanoke 
Island,  a  will  dated  1692,  Lawson's  History  of  North  Caro- 
lina, first  edition;  lease  by  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  the 
North  Carolina  fisheries  to  Mr.  Burrington,  afterwards  gov- 
ernor. In  the  Revolutionary  section  is  the  protest  of  the 
North  Carolina  Quakers  against  bearing  arms,  the  auto- 
graphs of  signers  of  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration,  &c.  The 
Swain  collection  of  autograph  letters,  owned  by  the  State, 
is  of  extreme  value  and  contains  the  signatures  of  most  of 
the  great  North  Carolinians  of  Revolutionary  times.  Bish- 
op Joseph  Blount  Cheshire  is  a  valued  contributor,  his  case 
containing  the  first  book  about  North  Carolina  and  the  first 
map,  printed  in  1590 ;  the  "Yellow  Jacket,"  the  first  book 
printed  in  North  Carolina,  New  Bern,  1752 ;  the  only  known 
copy  of  the  journal  of  the  State  Convention  at  Hillsboro  in 
1788,  which  rejected  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  the  jour- 
nal of  the  convention  at  Fayetteville  in  1789  which  ratified  it, 
Mr.  Charles  E.  Johnson,  of  Raleigh,  gives  the  public  an  op- 
portunity to  see  a  part  of  his  extensive  and  valuable  collec- 
tion, and  the  portraits,  mainly  etchings,  of  prominent  colon 
ial  North  Carolinians  attract  much  attention.     He  also  ex- 


112       Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

hibits  a  proclamation  of  Governor  Josiah  Martin,  which  bears 
the  only  known  second  seal  of  North  Carolina ;  a  copy  of  the 
South  Carolina  Gazette  of  June,  1775,  containing  the  Meck- 
lenburg Resolves  of  May  30th ;  a  rough  draft  of  the  opinion 
of  Judge  Iredell  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  in  the 
noted  case  of  Chisholm  against  Georgia,  which  resulted  in  the 
eleventh  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
By  the  courtesy  of  Governor  Aycock  and  Secretary  of  State 
Grimes  a  collection  of  autograph  letters  of  the  governors  is 
being  made,  already  containing  letters  and  public  documents 
bearing  the  signature  of  40  governors.  Relics  of  Nathaniel 
Macon,  secured  from  Mrs.  J.  T.  Turnbull  and  Julian  S. 
Carr,  are  objects  of  much  public  interest.  Judge  Robert  M. 
Douglas  lends  the  original  petition  of  the  people  of  Mas- 
sachusetts to  congress  for  the  dissolution  of  the  Union  on  ac- 
count of  slavery. 

What  may  be  termed  the  Confederate  section  is  very  rich 
in  uniforms,  swords  and  other  relics  of  offic'ers,  including 
those  of  Generals  Branch,  James  H.  Lane,  W.  H.  C.  Whit- 
ing, Robert  Ransom,  Collett  Leventhorpe,  Matt  W.  Ransom, 
James  Johnston  Pettigrew,  Bryan  Grimes,  Thomas  F.  Toon, 
as  well  as  Col.  William  Lamb,  the  commander  of  Fort  Fish- 
er ;  Col.  Cowand  and  Col.  Henry  K.  Burgwyn,  of  the  famous 
26th  regiment.  The  collection  of  Confederate  flags  em- 
braces the  "Bethel"  flag,  that  of  the  First  North  Carolina 
volunteers ;  that  of  the  24th  volunteers ;  the  14th  North  Caro- 
lina troops;  the  battle  flags  of  the  50th  and  the  58th  regi- 
ments, the  latter  having  been  in  all  the  great  battles  in  the 
southwest,  including  Chickamauga. 

In  autographs  of  the  Civil  War  period  the  collection  is  not- 
able and  there  are  also  orders  written  on  the  battlefield  to 
North  Carolina  officers  by  the  greatest  of  the  Confederate 
generals.  A  case,  mainly  contributed  by  Col.  Thomas  S. 
Kenan,  is  devoted  to  souvenirs  of  prison  life.  In  other  cases 
the  literary  and  domestic  life  of  the  Confederacy  is  illus- 
trated in  a  very  striking  way.  Mrs.  Elias  Carr  has  presented 
the  only  painting  in  existence  of  the  North  Carolina  block- 
ade-runner, "Advance,"  while  from  Governor  Aycock  has 
been  secured  the  silver  service  which  was  in  the  captain's 
cabin  of  that  noted  vessel.     The  collection  of  swords  of  all 


The  Historical  Museum.  113 

periods  is  a  very  fine  one,  some  of  these  being  in  the  cases 
devoted  entirely  bo  arms  of  all  kinds,  grouped  by  periods, 

while  others  are  shown  in  connection  with  uniforms  and 
other  relics. 

A  photograph  of  President  Jefferson  Davis  and  one  of  the 

last  letters  he  ever  wrote  are  objects  of  much  general  interest, 
as  is  also  the  candlestick  which  be  used  while  secretary  of 
war  and  during  the  campaign  in  Mexico,  and  also  in  the 
Confederacy,  and  which  was  in  his  tent  when  he  was  cap- 
tured near  Washington,  Ga. 

In  the  Mexican  war  period  one  of  the  most  valued  objects 
is  the  sword  which  was  presented  to  .Major  Mmitford  JS. 
Stokes  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  First  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  U.  S.  Volunteers. 

The  Spanish  American  War  period  is  well  illustrated,  a 
special  case  being  devoted  to  uniforms  and  other  relics  of 
Ensign  Worth  Bagley,  U.  S.  Navy;  and  another  to  relics  of 
Lieut.  William  E.  Shipp,  IT.  S.  Army,  who  was  killed  at  the 
storming  of  San  Juan  Hill,  Santiago.  The  latter  case  also 
contains  the  first  American  flags  borne  through  the  city  of 
Havana,  these  having  been  carried  by  the  First  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  North  Carolina  Volunteers. 

There  are  also  all  that  remains  of  the  noble  marble  statue 
of  Washington  by  Canova,  which  was  partially  destroyed  by 
the  burning  of  the  old  capitol,  and  a  large  engraving  showing 
the  statue  as  it  stood  in  the  rotunda  of  the  old  building;  a 
framed  collection  of  all  the  state  currency  issued  during  the 
Civil  War  and  all  the  currency  except  four  bills  issued  by 
the  Confederate  States.  Cannon  captured  at  Manila  and 
Santiago  illustrate  the  greatest  sea  fights  of  the  war  with 
Spain,  while  the  smoke-stack  and  armor-plate  of  the  North 
Carolina-built  ram  Albemarle  show  the  remarkable  work 
of  that  vessel. 

The  public  interest  in  the  collection  is  constantly  on  the 
increase  and  not  a  day  passes  without  additions.  The  Agri- 
cultural Department  enters  heartily  into  the  spirit  of  the 
work  and  Commissioner  Patterson  gives  his  most  cordial  co- 
operation. 


THE  ROANOKE  CELEBRATION  AND  THE 
RALEIGH  HEttORIAL  INSTITUTE. 


By  W.  J.  PEELE,  Esq.,   Raleigh,  N.  C. 


The  idea  of  having  a  celebration  on  Roanoke  Island  to 
commemorate  the  historic  events  associated  with  Raleigh's 
efforts  to  colonize  America,  was  suggested  by  Father  Creecy 
as  far  back  as  1884 — the  ter-centennial  of  the  landing  of  the 
Amidas  and  Barlowe  expedition;  and  Senator  Vance  intro- 
duced in  Congress  a  resolution  respecting  it.  At  that  time 
our  people  knew  so  little  of  their  own  history  that  the  prop- 
osition  fell   still-born. 

Before  and  since  the  crucifixion  it  has  been  easy  to  under- 
rate an  apparent  failure.  The  apparent  failure  at  Guilford 
Court  House  paved  the  way  for  Yorktown  and  Peace.  Be- 
tween 1584  and  1590,  while  Raleigh  was  breaking  Spain's 
sea  power,  he  was  winning  from  her  a  continent — claims  to 
which  he  never  ceased  to  assert  even  in  prison.  He  was  more 
the  immediate  inspiration  of  the  Jamestown  expedition 
than  the  monarch  on  the  throne,  but  the  continent  had  been 
already  won  by  his  bold  strokes  and  held  by  his  repeated 
expeditions  until  the  crucial  time  had  passed  for  its  recovery 
to  Spain.  Its  effectual  colonization  (which  Raleigh  never 
ceased  to  urge,  even  when  fortune  failed)  had  now  become 
only  a  question  of  time.  It  was  now  safe  for  conservative 
and  cowardly  royalty  to  undertake  it  and  leisurely  appro- 
priate the  fame  of  its  real  author.  It  has  been  left  to  North 
Carolina  to  tear  away  the  veil  which  mean  spirits  have  drawn 
around  this  collossal  figure.  She  began  more  than  a  century 
ago  by  naming  after  him  her  capital,  the  beautiful  "City  of 
Oaks."  In  a  few  years  a  noble  monument  to  his  memory 
will  stand  in  the  center  of  one  of  her  principal  squares. 

At  the  great  meeting  of  the  State  Literary  and  Historical 
Association  held  in  Raleigh  Oct.  22,  1901,  Maj.  Graham 
Daves,  of  New  Bern,  (now  deceased)  offered  the  following 
resolution  which  he  supported  by  an  appropriate  speech. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  provide  for  an 


The  Roanoke  Celebration.  115 

appropriate  celebration  on  Roanoke  Island  of  the  landing 
there  in  1584  of  the  expedition  of  Amidas  and  Barlowe  of 
the  settlement  in  1585-1587  of  the  bands  of  colonists  sent 
out  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 

This  resolution  was  seconded  by  Governor  Chas.  B.  Aycock 
in  his  well  known  felicitous  style  and  manner,  inaugurating 
a  movement  which  has  been  ever  since  growing  in  popular 
favor  in  the  State  and  in  the  country  at  large. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1902  a  large  and  representative 
body  of  citizens  met  at  Manteo  on  Roanoke  Island,  and,  as  a 
preliminary  to  what  will  be  one  day  done  on  a  grand  scale, 
proceeded  to  celebrate  by  patriotic  speeches  and  appropriate 
songs  the  historic  events  which  had  transpired  there  on  the 
island  more  than  three  centuries  before.  Among  the  great 
speeches  on  that  occasion  that  of  Chief  Justice  Clark  is  given 
in  this  volume,  an  inspiration  for  the  many  which  are  to  fol- 
low. 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  1903  it  was  pro- 
posed to  establish  on  Roanoke  Island  a  memorial  institution 
in  which  should  be  investigated  and  taught  the  arts  and 
sciences  which  relate  to  obtaining  wealth  from  the  sea — such 
as  ship-building,  navigation,  meteorology,  fish  culture,  &c. 
The  bill  which  embodied  these  ideas  was  introduced  into  the 
Legislature  by  Representative  Thos.  W.  Blount,  of  Washing- 
ton County.  It  became  a  law  the  9th  day  of  March,  1903, 
and  is  published  as  chapter  408  Private  Laws  of  that  year. 
Besides  Representative  Blount,  among  those  most  efficient 
in  securing  its  passage  should  be  mentioned  Senators  Don- 
nell  Gilliam,  of  Edgecombe ;  Mitchell,  of  Bertie ;  and  Joseph 
A.  Spruill,  of  Tyrrell ;  and  Representatives  Guion  of  Craven, 
Etheridge  of  Dare. 

The  corporators  are  Thos.  W.  Blount,  R.  B.  Etheridge, 
Theo.  S.  Meekins,  B.  G.  Crisp,  F.  P.  Gates,  A.  G.  Sample, 
R.  C.  Evans,  J.  B.  Jennett,  John  W.  Evans,  W.  H.  Lucas, 
Joseph  A.  Spruill  and  C.  W.  Mitchell.  The  charter  is 
unique  in  the  history  of  charters.  It  grants  powers  amply 
sufficient  for  its  purposes  but  provides  that  they  cannot  be 
exercised  until  an  hundred  subscribers  to  be  selected  by  the 
corporators  named  shall  subscribe  a  sum  not  less  than  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Company;  "it 


116         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

shall  then  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  issue  a 
charter  artistically  designed  and  ornamented." 

This  preliminary  fund,  the  amount  of  which  is  variously 
estimated  at  from  ten  to  fifty  thousand  dollars,  is  to  be  sub- 
scribed first  by  representative  North  Carolinians,  preferably 
one  from  each  county  or  Senatorial  District,  and  then  by 
representative  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  from  other 
countries.  Those  who  subscribe  to  this  fund  will  have  their 
names  and  autographs  enrolled  in  the  charter  to  be  issued 
by  the  Governor  and  Secretary  of  State  under  the  Great  Seal. 
At  the  proper  time  a  suitable  reward  will  doubtless  be  offered 
for  the  best  design  for  this  instrument. 

Some  wealthy  gentlemen  from  the  North  have  already  in- 
dicated their  purpose  to  subscribe  as  soon  as  the  corporation 
is  organized  and  ready  to  take  subscriptions. 

The  Jamestown  Exposition — a  little  more  than  one  hun- 
dred miles  North  of  Roanoke  Island — is  attracting  the  atten- 
tion of  the  world  to  the  shores  and  waters  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina.  Whether  those  in  charge  of  that  exposition 
will  it  or  not,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  is  the  central  figure  in  the 
English  colonization  of  America,  and  North  Carolina  should 
join  Virginia  in  her  efforts  to  make  the  Jamestown  Celebra- 
tion worthy  of  the  man  and  of  the  events  he  inspired. 

The  success  of  that  enterprise  rightly  taken  advantage  of 
by  North  Carolina  would  mean  almost  as  much  for  one  State 
as  for  the  other. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  principal  sections  of  the 
act  of  incorporation: 

Sec.  II.  That  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  establishment  and  equip- 
ment of  the  said  institution ;  and  the  State  Treasurer  is  here- 
by authorized  and  directed  to  pay  this  sum  out  of  any  fund 
in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated  upon  the  warrant 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  said  company :  Provided,  That  it 
shall  first  be  made  to  appear  to  his  satisfaction  that  the  sum 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  has  been  realized 
from  other  sources,  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars  of  which  shall  have  been  appropriated  to  or  made 
available  for  the  buildings,  equipment  and  endowment  of  the 
said  institution  of  scientific  investigation  and  instruction: 


The  Roanoke  Celebration.  117 

Provided  further,  That  no  part  of  the  appropriation  herein 
provided  for  shall  be  paid  before  the  first  day  of  January, 
1907:  Provided  further,  That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  the 
board  of  directors  of  said  company  or  the  trustees  of  the  said 
institution,  or  any  of  the  authorities  of  either,  to  pledge  the 
faith  or  credit  of  the  said  company  or  institution  or  to  un- 
dertake to  pledge  the  faith  or  credit  of  the  State  for  any  sum 
of  money  or  other  thing  of  value  for  the  purposes  of  this  act, 
or  any  purpose  whatsoever;  and  that  any  director  or  trustee 
or  other  officer  of  the  institution  who  shall  violate  this  pro- 
vision shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  the  State  hereby 
notifies  all  persons  that  it  will  in  no  wise  recognize  the  valid- 
ity of  any  pledge,  contract  or  obligation  so  made. 

Sec.  IV.  That  the  principal  office  of  said  coroporation  shall 
be  at  Washington,  N".  C,  or  Manteo,  N.  C,  but  the  board 
of  directors  may  change  the  principal  office  to  some  other 
place  and  may  open  branch  offices  at  any  place  desired. 

Sec.  V.  That  the  said  corporation  shall  have  full  power 
and  authority  to  promote,  organize  and  conduct  on  Roanoke 
Island  and  on  such  other  adjacent  places  as  the  stock  holders 
may  select  a  celebration  of  the  landing  and  settlement  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh's  colonies  on  Roanoke  Island,  the  birth  place 
of  Virginia  Dare,  the  first  Anglo-American  and  the  cradle 
of  American  civilization ;  and  to  hold  as  a  part  of  such  cele- 
bration an  exposition  of  Indian  and  colonial  relics,  imple- 
ments, weapons,  utensils,  curios,  documents,  maps,  surveys 
and  books  illustrative  of  that  period  and  such  other  objects 
of  historical  and  educational  value  as  will  show  the  progress 
of  our  race  on  this  continent  and  that  the  said  corporation 
shall  have  full  power  and  authority  to  do  and  perform  all 
such  acts  and  things  not  unlawful  under  the  laws  of  this  State 
as  may  be  deemed  necessary  or  proper  for  the  successful  pros- 
ecution of  the  above  mentioned  objects. 

Sec.  VI.  That  the  capital  stock  of  said  corporation  shall 
be  tAvo  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  divided  into  fifty 
thousand  shares  of  the  par  value  of  five  dollars  each,  but  the 
said  corporation  may  begin  business  when  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars shall  have  been  subscribed  to  the  capital  stock  and  the 
charter  shall  have  been  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  State  as 
hereinafter  provided. 


118         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

Sec.  IX.  That  the  company  is  authorized  and  empowered 
to  establish  on  Roanoke  Island,  on  lands  which  may  be  do- 
nated or  purchased  for  the  purpose,  in  commemoration  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  and  his  efforts  to  colonize  America,  an  insti- 
tution for  investigating  and  teaching  useful  arts  and  sciences, 
and  especially  those  relating  to  ship  building  and  navigation, 
meteorology,  and  to  the  culture  and  propogation  of  fish  and 
oysters,  and  the  protection  and  preservation  of  aquatic  birds 
and  animals.  The  instruction  in  shipbuilding  and  naviga- 
tion, and  so  far  as  may  be,  in  the  other  special  subjects  above 
named,  shall  be  industrial,  and  practically  illustrated  by 
examples  and  work  personally  conducted  by  the  students  in 
such  a  way  that  they  shall  learn  to  apply  the  principles  and 
theories  in  which  they  are  instructed  and  be  made  familiar 
with  the  manipulation  necessary  to  that  end.  The  other  in- 
struction in  the  institution  shall  be  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
the  trustees  hereinafter  provided  for. 

Sec.  XII.  That  as  soon  as  one  hundred  subscribers  to  be 
selected  by  the  corporators  named  in  section  2  of  this  act 
shall  have  subscribed  a  sum  not  less  than  Ten  Thousand  Dol- 
lars to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  issue  to  the  company  a  charter 
artistically  designed  and  ornamented. 

Sec.  XV.  That  if  the  work  is  not  begun  on  the  business  of 
said  corporation  within  five  years  from  the  ratification  of  this 
act,  then  this  charter  shall  become  void  and  of  no  effect; 
otherwise  so,  it  shall  remain  in  full  force  and  effect  for  the 
period  of  thirty  years  from  the  date  of  its  ratification. 

The  Island  itself — the  fulcrum  by  which  Raleigh  raised 
a  continent  into  English  possession — is  interesting  without 
its  history  and  associations.  Thirteen  miles  long — a  mile 
for  each  of  the  colonies  of  Raleigh's  "Virginia" — and  three 
in  breadth,  this  cradle  of  the  Anglo-American  race,  like  the 
ark  in  the  bulrushes,  lies  embowered  in  evergreens  amid  the 
gently  heaving  waters  of  four  Sounds — Albemarle,  Pamlico, 
Roanoke  and  Croatan.  A  little  to  the  East  of  it,  and  be- 
tween it  and  the  stormy  Atlantic,  is  ridged  the  great  barrier 
of  sand,  all  knotted  like  a  huge  serpent,  and  stretching  itself 
in  the  sheen  of  its  yellow  beauty  for  two  hundred  miles  be- 
tween the  ocean  and  the  Sounds. 

In  the  little  land-locked  sea,  the  best  protected  waters  on 


The  Roanoke  Celebration.  119 

the  American  coast,  in  the  safety  and  the  privacy  of  great 
dame  Nature  was  prepared  the  birth  place  of  the  nation, 
which  has  become  the  greatest  of  her  children.  After  more 
than  three  centuries  a  feeling  akin  to  home-sickness  stirs 
the  breasts  of  Americans  and  they  are  turning  their  longing 
eyes  toward  the  place  of  the  nation's  nativity. 

About  the  year  1835  the  romantic  historian  Jo.  Seawell 
Jones  visited  the  Tsland  while  it  was  yet  covered  with  the 
primeval  forests  and  vine,  much  as  it  was  in  July,  1584, 
when  the  sight  of  it  first  gladdened  the  hearts  of  Amidas  and 
Barlowe.  Jones  says:  "If  it  should  ever  be  the  lot  of  the 
reader  to  stroll  under  the  vintage  shades  of  Roanoke — made 
impervious  to  the  rays  of  the  sun  by  the  rich  foliage  and  the 
clustering  grapes  above  him — he  will  not  venture  to  discredit 
the  highly  wrought  sketches  of  Hariot  nor  mock  the  humble 
enthusiasm  of  the  volume  now  before  him." 

"Nature  seems  to  have  exerted  herself  to  adorn  it  as  the 
Eden  of  the  New  World.  The  richest  garniture  of  flowers, 
and  the  sweetest  minstrelsy  of  birds,  are  there.  In  travers- 
ing the  northern  section  of  the  island,  in  the  spring  time  of 
the  year,  flowers  and  sweet  scented  herbs,  in  the  wildest 
luxuriance,  are  strewn  along  your  winding  way,  welcoming 
you  with  their  fragrance  to  their  cherished  isle.  The  wild 
rose  bush,  which  at  times  springs  up  into  nurseries  of  one 
hundred  yards  in  extent,  "blooms  blushing"  to  the  song  of  the 
thousand  birds  that  are  basking  in  her  bowers." 

Sometimes  the  great  Lover  and  Author  of  colors  paints  a 
sunset  of  green  and  gold  on  Sound  and  ocean.  Jones  seems 
to  have  witnessed  one  of  these  sunsets  from  the  brow  of  a 
sandhill  during  his  visit,  and  thus  describes  it: 

"To  the  westward  of  the  Island,  the  waters  of  the  Albe- 
marle crept  sluggishly  along;  and  in  the  winding  current  of 
the  Swash  several  vessels  stood,  with  outspread  but  motionless 
wings.  Away  down  to  the  south,  the  Pamlico  soread  itself 
out,  like  an  ocean  of  molten  gold,  gloaming  along  the  banks 
of  Chickamacomico  and  Hatteras;  and,  contrasted  with 
this,  were  the  dark  waters  which  separate  Roanoke  from  the 
sea-beach,  and  which  were  now  shaded  from  the  tints  of  the 
sunset  by  the  whole  extent  of  the  island." 

"A  sea  of  glory  streamed  along  the  narrow  ridge — dividing 


120         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

the  inland  waters  from  the  ocean ;  and  beyond  this  the  bound- 
less Atlantic  heaved  her  chafed  bosom  of  sapphire  and  gold 
against  the  base  of  yon  stormy  cape.  I  enjoyed  and  lived  in 
that  sunset  twilight  hour.  I  thought  of  the  glorious  destiny 
of  the  land  on  which  I  trod — as  glorious  as  the  waters  and  the 
earth  then  around  me.  I  thought  of  the  genius  and  the  death 
of  Raleigh — of  the  heroic  devotedness  of  Grenville — of  the 
gallantry  of  Cavendish  and  Drake — of  the  learning  of  Hariot 
— of  the  nobleness  of  Manteo,  the  Lord  of  Roanoke — of  the 
adventurous  expedition  of  Sir  Ralph  Lane  up  the  river  Mora- 
tock — of  the  savage  array  of  the  bloodthirsty  Wingina — of 
the  melancholy  fate  of  the  last  of  the  Raleigh  colonies — of 
Virginia  Dare  the  first  Anglo-American — of  the  agony  of 
her  mother — and  then  T  thought  of  those  exquisite  lines  of 
Byron, 

"Shrine  of  the  mighty,  can  it  be 
That  this  is  all  remains  of  thee?" 

In  1901  Col.  F.  A.  Olds  visited  the  Island  and  told  a  part 
of  what  he   saw   as   follows: 

"The  centre  of  attraction  is  Fort  Raleigh.  Along  roads 
of  white  sand,  beneath  pines  with  which  the  bright  green  of 
the  holly  is  mingled,  the  way  lies  to  the  fort.  To  the  right, 
after  going  a  little  distance,  rise  in  long  lines  the  sand  dunes, 
vast  mounds,  the  creation  and  sport  of  the  winds.  Looking 
from  the  top  of  these,  one  sees  to  the  eastward  the  sea,  green 
and  heaving,  and  the  curl  of  its  breakers,  and  borne  by  the 
soft  wind  comes  the  thunder  of  the  surf,  almost  like  an  echo. 
At  ones  feet  lies  the  Sound,  yellow  as  gold,  three  miles  in 
width,  and  so  shallow  that  nearly  the  entire  distance  can  be 
waded.     Looking  westward  the  island  seems  at  one's  feet." 

"Descending  from  the  height,  the  ride  is  resumed.  Past 
houses,  some  modern,  others  gray  with  age,  the  road  winds. 
Presently  there  appears  a  guiding  hand,  bearing  the  words 
"Fort  Raleigh."  It  points  eastward,  and  there,  100  yards 
away  is  the  fort." 

"Surrounded  by  a  fence  of  pine  rails,  with  a  rustic  gate- 
way of  little  upright  poles,  is  the  ruin.  In  its  center  stands 
a  severely  simple  marble  monument,  and  low  posts  of  granite, 
a  foot  high,  mark  the  venerable  earthwork.  The  outlines  are 
perfectly  plain.     The  greatest  height  of  the  parapet  above 


The  Roanoke  Celebration.  121 

the  ditch  is  some  two  feet.  Almost  an  acre  is  enclosed  by 
the  fence,  and  the  fort  covers  little  more  than  a  fourth  of  this 
area.  The  colonist's  log  huts  surrounded  the  fort,  which  was 
their  refuge.  Within  the  limits  of  the  enclosure  are  live-oak, 
pine,  holly,  dogwood,  sassafras,  water-oak  and  cherry  trees. 
Up  one  live-oak  clambers  a  grape  vine  and  at  its  foot  is  an 
English  ivy.  The  monument,  or  memorial  stone  faces  west- 
ward and  bears  this  inscription: 

"On  this  site  in  July- August,  1585,  colonists  sent  out  by 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  built  a  fort  called  by  them  'The  new 
fort  in  Virginia.'  These  colonists  were  the  first  settlers  of 
the  English  race  in  America.  They  returned  to  England  in 
July  1586  with  Sir  Francis  Drake. 

"Near  this  place  was  born,  on  the  18th  day  of  August, 
1587,  Virginia,  the  first  child  of  English  parents  born  in 
America,  Daughter  of  Ananias  Dare  and  Eleanor  White, 
his  wife,  members  of  another  band  of  colonists  sent  out  by 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  1587.  On  Sunday  August  20,  1587, 
Virginia  Dare  was  baptized.  Manteo,  the  friendly  chief  of 
the  Hatteras  Indians  had  been  baptized  on  the  Sunday  pre- 
vious. These  baptisms  were  the  first  known  celebrations  of 
the  sacrament  in  the  territories  of  the  thirteen  original 
States." 

"The  land  has  never  been  in  cultivation,  and  to  this  fact  is 
due  the  marvellous  preservation  of  the  ancient  earthwork. 
In  America  316  years  seem  a  very  great  lapse  of  time,  yet  so 
old  is  this  little  earthwork,  which,  thanks  to  the  care  of  the 
"Roanoke  Colony  Memorial  Association,"  is  at  last  marked. 
It  is  evident  that  the  fort  was  made  of  two  rows  of  upright 
palisades,  or  logs,  between  which  was  earth.  The  palisades 
soon  decayed,  but  the  earth  retains  its  outline  perfectly." 

Prof.  Chas.  R.  Taylor,  a  resident  of  the  Island  and  prin- 
cipal of  the  High  School  at  Wanchese,  writes  in  1902 : 

"Much  of  the  beautiful  scenery  of  that  age  has  passed 
away.  To  the  east  lies  a  long  and  well-nigh  barren  strip  of 
sand  that  marks  the  bounds  of  the  ocean.  Along  the  coast 
at  nearly  regular  intervals,  are  the  life-saving  stations,  with 
bere  and  there  a  village  inhabited  by  oystermen  and  fisher- 
men, and  where  many  life-savers  have  their  homes.  All 
these  banks,  within  the  memory  of  their  old  men,  were  cov- 
ered, with  scarcely  a  break,  with  a  dense  forest.     These  have 


122         Historical  and  Literary  Activities  in  N.  C. 

all  been  swallowed  up  by  small  mountains  of  moving  sand. 
Roanoke  Island  was  heavily  timbered." 

Another  change  that  has  taken  place  within  the  memory  of 
the  fathers  of  this  generation  is  that  the  island  is  further 
from  the  mainland.  The  marsh  from  Croatan  and  that  from 
the  south  end  of  Roanoke  Island  nearly  met,  only  a  narrow 
creek  separating  them.  This  was  when  the  waters  of  the 
Albemarle  sought  the  ocean  by  Nag's  Head  Inlet.  A  storm 
closed  this.  These  waters  then  sought  to  pass  by  way  of  an 
inlet  south  of  Roanoke  Island.  Their  force  removed  the 
peaty  marsh  and  opened  the  wide  waterway  as  it  now  is. 

For  more  than  two  centuries  this  section  was  sparsely  set- 
tled. Only  twenty-five  years  ago  there  were  no  more  than 
five  or  six  hundred  inhabitants  on  this  island.  Their  only 
connection  with  the  outside  world  was  by  sailing  vessels. 
They  were  difficult  of  access,  and  made  little  improve- 
ment.    ***** 

"Dare  County  was  formed  after  our  Civil  War,  out  of 
parts  of  Hyde,  Tyrrell  and  Currituck  Counties.  This  may 
be  deemed  the  first  marked  step  of  advancement.  Its  com- 
munities, separated  by  water,  and  hitherto  attending  different 
Courts,  and  having  different  political  associations,  were  now 
brought  together  to  build  up  their  own  section." 

"The  people  are  now  united  as  a  county,  with  their  court- 
house finely  located,  and  accessible  from  every  quarter.  The 
wealth  of  fish  and  fowl,  which  the  Heavenly  Father  has 
placed  in  their  waters,  is  now  fully  appreciated,  and  is  simply 
enormous.  They  now  have  excellent  steamboat  communi- 
cation with  the  outside  world.  The  people  have  built  them- 
selves homes  that  would  be  creditable  to  any  rural  section  of 
the  State.  Besides  the  schools  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
county,  they  have  built  two  commodious  academies  on  Roan- 
oke Island — one  at  Manteo  and  the  other  at  Wanchese.  These 
are  conducted  by  graduates  of  leading  colleges  in  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina.  There  are,  moreover,  as  many  young 
men  and  women  attending  schools  of  high  grade  from  this 
island  as  from  any  place  of  the  same  area  in  the  State,  cities 
excepted.  Nor  is  this  all.  Their  churches  are  nowhere  sur- 
passed in  any  country  place  known  to  the  writer.  These 
people  fear  God  and  honor  Him." 


The  Roanoke  Celebration.  123 

The  island  contains  a  population  of  about  eighteen  hun- 
dred people  engaged  for  the  most  part  in  fishing  and  agricul- 
ture. This  number  is  considerably  swelled  by  visitors  at  cer- 
tain seasons. 

From  the  light  house  on  Bodie's  Island,  a  few  miles  to  the 
south  of  Roanoke,  is  spread  out  one  of  the  most  interesting 
panoramas  on  the  American  coast.  The  historic  Island,  the 
Banks,  where  the  first  landing  was  made,  the  Sounds  with 
their  deep  shaded  shores,  and  the  limitless  expanse  of  the 
ocean  conspire  together  to  make  a  picture  that  shall  not  be 
soon  forgot. 

"Carolina!  Carolina!    Heaven's  blessings  attend  her; 
While  we  live  we  will  cherish,  protect  and  defend  her." 


MONUMENT  TO  SIR  WALTER  RALEIQH. 


Br  Gen.  J.  8.  CARR,  Durham,  N.  C. 


At  the  great  meeting  of  the  State  Literary  and  Historical 
Association  held  in  our  State  Capitol  during  the  Fair  (Oct.), 
190^,  I  had  the  honor  to  propose  the  erection  of  a  statue  to 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 

The  Association,  the  audience,  and  apparently  also  the 
people  at  large,  responded  enthusiastically  to  the  proposition. 
The  requisite  funds  would  have  been  raised  in  a  short  while 
if  a  canvass  had  been  then  made;  but,  as  it  was  rightly  con- 
sidered, the  monument  was  the  least  part  of  the  project. 
The  educational  value  of  raising  a  fund  to  erect  it  as  far  as 
may  be  practicable  by  penny  collections  from  the  school  chil- 
dren, is  not  easy  to  overestimate. 

But  there  is  something  better  even  than  education  in  his- 
tory— it  is  the  growing  fellowship  of  North  Carolinians 
wherever  they  are  found — and  where  indeed  are  they  not 
found.  They  are  forming  clubs  and  associations  not  only 
throughout  this  State  but  in  every  State  in  which  they  reside. 
They  are  all  united  by  the  ties  of  filial  affection  which  bind 
them  to  their  mother  and  they  will  readily  respond  to  any  call 
by  which  she  may  seek  to  bring  her  children  together. 

Our  sister  State,  Virginia,  has  undertaken  that  vast  enter- 
prise, The  Jamestown  Celebration,  which  is  drawing  all 
Virginians  together  from  every  land  and  clime.  Many  tens 
of  thousands  of  our  own  people  from  the  other  States  into 
which  they  have  gone,  returning  from  the  Jamestown  celebra- 
tion, will  be  only  too  glad  to  join  us  in  doing  honor  to  the  man 
whose  untiring  efforts  to  colonize  America  on  the  shores  of 
North  Carolina  made  successful  colonization  possible. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  those  who  have  the  erection  of  this 
monument  at  heart  to  bring  it  to  pass  during  the  Virginia 
Exposition  so  that  the  real  colonizer  of  America  may  not  be 
forgotten  amid  the  multitude  of  lesser  lights. 
'  It  is  not  expected  that  the  fund  requisite  for  so  great  an 
undertaking  will  be  raised  by  penny  collections  from  the 


Monument  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  125 

school  children,  but  the  effect  wherever  these  collections  have 
been  taken  up  has  been  to  create  a  healthful  interest  in  the 
source  of  our  history  among  those  who  are  hastening  to  take 
our  places.  If  some  well-disposed  citizen  in  each  county 
where  the  educational  authorities  fail,  will  see  to  it  that  each 
child  in  his  county  has  an  opportunity  to  give  his  penny,  or 
in  default  of  this  will  see  that  enough  pennies  are  given  to 
represent  each  child  of  school-age,  it  will  make  the  erection 
of  the  monument  far  easier  and  will  immeasurably  increase 
the  interest  in  the  movement. 


THE  PATTERSON  MEMORIAL  CUP. 


The  most  notable  recent  gift  for  the  encouragement  of 
literary  ami  historical  activities  in  North  (  arolina  is  the 
loving  cup  donated  to  the  State  Literary  and  Historical  AflBO 
ciatiox)  l»y  Mrs.  J.  Lindsay  Patterson,  of  Winston-Salem.  In 
recognition  of  this  patriotic  action  the  compilers  have  thought 
it  fitting  that  Mrs.  Patterson's  portrait  should  be  used  as  the 
frontispiece  of  this  volume.  The  following  editorial  from 
the  Charlotte  Observer  of  January  9th  sets  forth  very  com- 
pletely the  terms  and  conditions  of  her  splendid  gift  and  the 
motives  which  inspired  it. 


Certainly  no  happier  idea  could  have  been  conceived  by 
Mrs.  J.  Lindsay  Patterson,  of  Winston-Salem,  for  honoring 
the  memory  of  her  father,  and  at  the  same  time  fostering  and 
stimulating  the  literary  spirit  of  our  people,  than  that  out- 
lined in  the  Observer  a  few  days  ago  and  elaborated  in  an 
interview  in  the  Raleigh  Post  with  Mr.  Clarence  H.  Poe, 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Xorth  Carolina  Literary  am! 
Historical  Association.  Mrs.  Patterson  proposes  to  present 
to  the  society,  for  competition,  a  gold  loving  cup,  set  with 
selections  from  all  the  precious  stones  that  are  found  in  Xorth 
Carolina,  to  be  awarded  each  year  to  the  North  Carolinian 
doing  the  best  literary  work  in  either  prose  or  poetry.  We 
quote  from  the  Post : 

"This  splendid  gift,"  said  Mr.  Poe,  in  speaking  of  the  mat- 
ter yesterday,  "is  given  by  Mrs.  Patterson  as  a  memorial  of 
her  father,  Colonel  W.  H.  Patterson,  of  Philadelphia,  who 
died  last  September,  and  will  be  known  as  the  'William 
Houston  Patterson  Memorial  Cup.'  Col.  Patterson  was  him- 
self a  writer  and  a  scholar  of  unusual  ability,  and  was  in- 
tensely interested  in  Xorth  Carolina  history  and  Southern 
literature  generally.  And  the  memorial  which  Mrs.  Patter- 
son has  decided  upon  is  not  a  barren  and  lifeless  one,  but 
one  which  will  be  fruitful  of  great  good  to  the  State  in 
just  the  way  her  father  would  have  liked  most.  The  terms 
under  which  the  cup  is  given  are  these: 

"At  each  meeting  of  the   State  Literary  and  Historical 

127 


128  The  Patterson  Memorial  Cup. 

Association  it  is  to  be  awarded  to  that  resident  of  North  Caro- 
lina who  during  the  preceding  twelve  months  has  published 
the  best  work,  either  in  prose  or  verse — history,  essay,  fic- 
tion or  poetry ;  in  books,  pamphlets  or  periodicals.  At  the  end 
of  ten  years  the  cup  is  to  become  the  permanent  possession  of 
the  writer  winning  it  the  greatest  number  of  times,  though  if 
no  one  person  win  it  three  times,  or  if  there  be  a  tie,  the  time 
will  be  extended.  No  one  is  formally  to  enter  the  contest,  and 
the  judges  from  their  knowledge  of  our  State  literature  are 
simply  to  decide  which  North  Carolina  writer  publishes  the 
worthiest  work  between  the  annual  meetings  of  the  associa- 
tion. The  cup  is  now  being  made  in  Philadelphia,  and  the 
first  award  will  be  made  at  our  annual  meeting  in  October, 
all  the  work  of  the  preceding  twelve  months  being  considered 
by  the  judges.  Each  winner  is  to  have  his  name  engraved 
on  the  prize,  and  to  retain  possession  of  it  for  one  year.* 

"The  judges  as  finally  decided  upon  by  Mrs.  Patterson 
consist  of  the  president  of  the  Literary  and  Historical  Asso- 
ciation, chairman,  and  the  occupants  of  the  chairs  of  history 
in  the  University  of  North  Carolina  and  Trinity  College,  and 
the  chairs  of  literature  in  the  University,  Davidson  and  Wake 
Forest. 

"All  in  all,"  said  Mr.  Poe,  "the  plan  is  regarded  by  our 
committee  as  thoroughly  happy,  praiseworthy  and  practical, 
and  we  feel  that  the  whole  State  will  honor  Mrs.  Patterson 
for  her  patriotic  action.  The  award  of  the  cup  will  certainly 
be  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  our  next  annual 
meeting." 

Mrs.  Patterson's  thought  is  a  beautiful  one,  and  carries 
with  it  not  only  the  evidence  of  tenderness  for  the  memory 
of  her  father  but  a  desire  on  her  part  to  do  something  for 
North  Carolina  in  the  direction  he  would  have  most  pre- 
ferred. Colonel  Patterson  was  a  gentleman  of  rare  scholar- 
ship. He  took  peculiar  interest  in  North  Carolina,  the 
home  of  his  accomplished  daughter,  and  it  is  fitting  that  a 
memorial  to  him  should  carry  with  it  a  purpose  to  advance 
the  intellectual  life  of  the  State.  He  died  at  his  summer 
home  in  the  mountains  of  Tennessee. 


*  Since  the  above  was  printed  the  cup  has  been  completed  and  will  be 
presented  to  the  first  winner  during  the  coming  State  Fair. 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  below 

NOV  2  6  195$ 


5m-6,'41(3644) 


UJUVERSITY  OJ  QRMA 

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LOS  ANGELES 

LIBRARY 


F255 


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7  •  1  )S   and 

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nrrinN.i  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


Historical  and  literary 
activities   in  IJorth 
Carolina. 


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